The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Baghdad

Iraqi said on Thursday it will appeal its suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and send a high-level delegation to present its case.

The IOC on Wednesday suspended Iraq over "political interference" in its national Olympic Committee which was sacked last month and replaced by a new body headed by Sports Minister Jassem Jaafar.

"We are fully confident that once the Iraqi delegation attends the meeting of the IOC and presents the facts, the provisions for the suspension will be immediately removed," a government statement said.

Iraq was expected to field just one athlete for the Beijing games this year.

The IOC on Wednesday said it "does not recognise any interim committee" nor any other officers appointed by the Iraqi government but said talks would be held with committee members who were legitimately elected "to find appropriate solutions".

The Iraqi government said that the previous committee was sacked because of "solid evidence of blatant corruption, lack of legitimate transparent electoral processes and accountability."

It said the committee had an insufficient quorum and had failed to hold elections in over five years.

The head of the committee, Ahmed Al-Samarrai, was kidnapped in July 2006 and has not been heard of since.

World football governing body FIFA also suspended the Iraqi football federation over the issue but rescinded its decision in late May when Baghdad said the suspension of sports bodies did not extend to football.