BAGHDAD - Four Iraqi athletes will go to the Beijing Games, organisers said on Thursday, up from an initial two allowed to take part when the International Olympic Committee lifted a ban on Iraq's participation two days ago.

Iraq's sports minister, however, said six of Iraq's seven-member team had been confirmed to take part, and talks were under way to secure a place for the seventh. The reason for the discrepancy in the numbers was not immediately clear.

"A double-sculls crew will compete under the Iraqi flag at the 2008 Beijing Games. This welcome news brings the Iraqi team up to four, including a sprinter and a discus thrower," the IOC said in a statement on its website (www.olympic.org).

The IOC said on Tuesday only the sprinter and discus thrower could compete in Beijing because spots for other events had already been redistributed to other national teams.

Iraq's rowing spots at the games had been given to North Korea's National Olympic Committee (NOC), but the IOC said it had declined the places, allowing the Iraqi rowers to compete.

It was unclear whether Iraq had persuaded North Korea to return the spots, but Youth and Sports Minister Jasem Mohammed Jaafar said Iraq was in touch with foreign sports bodies.

"So far six members of the Iraqi Olympic team will go to Beijing, and I believe the seventh will also take part. We are in contact with sports federations of other countries and I believe all seven will take part," Jaafar told Reuters.

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

The IOC had last week banned Iraq for what it considered "political interference" in its NOC, and last-ditch talks to overturn the decision have been an emotional rollercoaster for Iraq's athletes.

"I'm very happy with this decision, thanks to God, our efforts have not gone to waste. I truly thank all those who worked to make this happen. I thank all the Iraqi Olympic officials and the government," rower Haider Nauzad told Reuters.

Iraq's government said it had disbanded the country's NOC in May because it lacked a quorum and had failed to hold new elections. The IOC gave Iraq a deadline to reinstate the body or face an Olympic ban, but the government did not back down.

On Thursday the IOC said Iraq would be allowed to compete on the condition the NOC hold new elections by the end of November.