Maliki blames Syria for attacks, Assad denies claim
AFP - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Monday that 90 percent of foreign terrorists who infiltrate Iraq did so via Syria, a charge likely to worsen already fractured relations between the neighbouring states. His comments came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed allegations that his country was sheltering militants suspected of involvement in a devastating bombing in Baghdad as "immoral" and politically motivated.
The competing claims signalled no end in sight to a crisis initially triggered by Iraq's accusation that Syria is being used as a staging post for insurgents to launch deadly attacks across the border. Maliki reiterated that ties with Damascus would not improve until it handed over the suspects it blames for one of two bloody attacks on government ministries in Baghdad on August 19 that killed 95 people and wounded 600.
"Ninety percent of terrorists from different Arabic nationalities infiltrated Iraq through Syrian territory," Maliki said during a visit by the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, aimed at cooling the row. Relations between Iraq and Syria deteriorated after Baghdad alleged Damascus was harbouring leaders behind a truck bomb attack on its finance ministry, followed within minutes by a similar attack on the foreign ministry.
"We demand that the Syrian side hand over the main people wanted in this crime," Maliki said, alluding to Baathist suspects Mohammed Yunis al-Ahmed and Sattam Farhan, "and others of whom there are Interpol warrants against."
Last week, Iraq recalled its ambassador in Damascus and Syria retaliated within hours by withdrawing its envoy from Baghdad. Maliki also insisted that Damascus "expel the terrorists, Baathists and Takfiris (extremists) who take Syria as a base to launch criminal activity inside Iraq" and said without that there would be no progress. As Maliki made his statement, Assad adamantly denied that Syria was to blame.
"Syria is accused of killing Iraqis although it welcomes 1.2 million Iraqis (refugees)," Assad said at a joint news conference in Damascus with visiting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias. "Such accusations are immoral and political. When accusations are not based on any proof, this means they are illogical in the eyes of the law," Assad added, again urging Iraq to present evidence to support its allegations.
http://www.france24.com/en/20090901-maliki-blames-syria-attacks-assad-denies-claim-