MANILA - National carmaker Proton will export 5,000 cars to Iraq in August after selling a similar number to the embattled country last year, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said here today.

She said Malaysia was prepared to sell Iraq buses and trucks if requested.

"We shouldn't stop doing business with Iraq or with anybody else for that matter so long as it is within the ambit of what is provided for under the United Nations," Rafidah told reporters in the Philippines capital o­n the first stop of a three nation tour, also covering Indonesia and Thailand.

"For us, even if there is a war in Iraq, we will like to continue to establish long term relationships with Iraq but of course our prayer is there is no war so that they can get going with nation building," she said.

Rafidah said Iraqi imports of Malaysian cars was part of Baghdad's efforts to improve its infrastructure.