Manila: A senior Iraqi diplomat on Friday urged the Philippine government to lift a four-year travel ban to Iraq to allow more Filipinos to work there.

Iraqi charge d'affaires Adel Mawlood Hamoudi Al Hakim said more foreign workers were needed amid a massive reconstruction effort in Iraq.

"For the new phase we are planning to do in 2009, we will be needing thousands of foreign workers," Al Hakim said. "That's why we are so in need of Filipino help and experience."

He said Iraq needs engineers, nurses, teachers and technicians. "A lot of opportunities will be open to Filipinos after the ban is lifted," he said.

At least 15,000 Filipinos are working in Iraq despite the ban, which was imposed after the kidnapping of a Filipino in 2004.


Al Hakim said Philippine and Iraqi officials were scheduled to meet in January to discuss employment opportunities in the Middle East country.