SYRIA: President Bashar al-Assad says Iraqi accusations that Syria were responsible for attacks inside its territory are immoral

Record ID: 279858

  • Title: SYRIA: President Bashar al-Assad says Iraqi accusations that Syria were responsible for attacks inside its territory are immoral
  • Date: 1st September 2009
  • Summary: ***FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** JOURNALISTS DURING THE NEWS CONFERENCE ASSAD AND CHRISTOFIAS ARRIVING AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE HALL JOURNALISTS ASSAD DURING THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: "When Syria is accused of killing Iraqis, while it is housing around 1.2 million Iraqis, which is its duty, this is considered an immoral a
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA40VG2UZO9VFPAU96Q90AWG2A7
  • Story Text: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday (August 31) described as "immoral" Iraq's accusation that Damascus carried out attacks inside its territory and again asked Baghdad produce evidence to support its claims.
    His remarks were the latest salvo in an escalating war of words between the two neighbours since Iraqi officials accused Syria of complicity in a spike of militant attacks in Iraq.
    "When Syria is accused of killing Iraqis, while it is housing around 1.2 million Iraqis ... this is considered an immoral accusation," Assad told a joint news conference with visiting Cypriot President Demetris Christofias in Damascus.
    "When Syria is accused of supporting terrorism, while it has been fighting it for decades ... this is a political accusation that follows no political logic. And when it is accused of terrorism without proof, it is outside any legal logic."
    Iraq and Syria recalled their ambassadors last week after Baghdad demanded that Damascus hand over two alleged masterminds of bombings in Baghdad that killed almost 100 people, mainly at two government ministries.
    On Sunday (August 30), Iraq aired a confession from a suspected al Qaeda militant who accused Syrian intelligence agents of training foreign fighters like himself in a camp before sending them to fight in Iraq.
    Assad said Syria was still waiting for Iraq to send a delegation with documented evidence of the charges.
    Iran has called for talks among Iraq and its neighbours in the wake of the accusations, and Turkey's foreign minister was to visit Iraq and Syria on Monday to try to soothe relations between the two.
    Iraq's Shi'ite-led government has blamed supporters of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party for massive truck bombs and other attacks in August, and says it has already captured some suspects.
    Syria and Iraq, ruled by rival wings of the Baath party, were at odds for years after Saddam came to power in 1979, but ties improved and trade surged in the late 1990s.
    Tensions resurfaced after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with the U.S. and Iraqi governments accusing Syria of sheltering Saddam loyalists and letting Sunni insurgents stream into Iraq.
    Assad, who held meetings with Christofias in the capital, said they also discussed Middle East peace and relations with Israel.
    "The security and stability in the Middle East would not be achieved without establishing peace. And the non-existence of an Israeli partner in the peace process and the Israeli response on all peace calls with wars, will not bring anything but more instability and terrorism to the region and world," Assad told reporters after their meetings.
    Syria and Israel had five rounds of indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey in 2008.
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