DUBAI -

* Iraq’s state grains buyer has asked traders to extend the validity of their offer prices in an international tender to buy at least 50,000 tonnes of hard milling wheat to April 16, traders said

* This was because of a religious occasion in the country

* The tender had closed on April 8 with offers previously having to remain valid until April 12

* Australian wheat was the lowest price offered in the tender at $300.75 a tonne cost, insurance and freight (CIF) 

* No purchase is believed to have been made, traders said

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan, writing by Michael Hogan) ((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 40 419 03 4275; Reuters Messaging: michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))