The postal authority of Shanghai said yesterday it has stopped servicing parcels and letters destined for Iraq and Kuwait due to the ongoing war there. It did not say when the service will resume.
The move came after the State Postal Bureau on Monday issued a notice asking all its branches to stop service to the two countries.
"Iraq and Kuwait are off-limits now, but other destinations in the Middle East are open," said an operator working for the city's postal service's 185 inquiry hot line. "Mail or parcels posted a few days prior to Monday will be returned to clients."
Shanghai Postal Bureau officials refused to give details about the number of parcels and letters toward the two countries it handles every day.
In a statement on its Website, the State Postal Bureau cited security concerns for suspending the service.
"By March 24, the war was already running for five days and with the battle heating up, international postal access to Iraq and Kuwait ceased," the briefing said.
According to the International Cooperation Department under China Post, the suspension covers all kinds of mail delivery, by sea and air.
The service will likely resume "after the situation in the Gulf region returns to normal," the statement said.
Although postal access to other countries in the Middle East is normal now, postal officials warned that service to these countries could also be affected in the future.
(eastday.com March 27, 2003)
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