Iraq reportedly fends off Iranian weekend attacks

Foreign correspondents visiting the battle zone around the Iraqi southern port city of Basra said Iraqi lines appeared intact along the international border.

Iranian attacks were aimed at cutting off Basra, Iraq's second largest city and formerly its main outlet for oil. On Sunday's evidence, however, the Iraqis appear to have held their ground against the four major onslaughts launched by Iran since July 13.

Iranian Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi said Saturday Iran would welcome mediation efforts by Algeria in the war with Iraq, according to the official Algerian press service (APS), which also said Iraq would support such mediation.