Baghdad - Iraq is currently free of swine flu and cooperating with the World Health Organization to prevent an outbreak, reports quoting Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Issawi said. "Iraq is new free of both the bird flu and the swine flu," al- Issawi told Iraq's government newspaper.

Iraq has established a joint operations room and special centres in Baghdad and other parts of the country as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of the new influenza virus, he said.

The swine-flu outbreak that was first detected in Mexico has caused alarm world-wide. (dpa)