Amman  - The Jordanian Interior Ministry on Thursday announced new facilities for Iraqis, particularly businessmen, wishing to visit or stay in Jordan.

The rules, which go into effect as of Sunday, provides for the establishment of a "special counter" on the border post for granting Iraqi businessmen, investors and officials entry visas without prior agreement from the interior minister as it was the case before, according to a ministry statement.

The new instructions, which also allow families and independents of businessmen to get residence permits and buy more than one apartment each, are apparently designed to spur the economy which has been adversely affected by the global recession, economists said.

The new rules replace previous instructions under which Iraqis were forced to get prior permission from the Interior Ministry before entering Jordan.

Strict measures have been applied against Iraqis wishing to enter Jordan since November 2005, when two al-Qaeda-linked Iraqi suicide bombers blew themselves up at a wedding party at a five-star hotel in Amman, killing at least 60 people. (dpa)