Syria, Iraq Withdraw Envoys over Baghdad Truck Bombings

Syria, Iraq Withdraw Envoys over Baghdad Truck Bombings

25/08/2009 Damascus recalled its ambassador to Iraq on Tuesday after Baghdad ordered home its envoy and demanded the handover of two men alleged behind a deadly truck bombing last week, the foreign ministry said.

"In response to the recalling by the Iraqi government of the Iraqi ambassador for consultation, Syria has decided to recall its ambassador to Baghdad," a foreign ministry statement said. "Syria categorically rejects the statement of the spokesman of the Iraqi government regarding the bloody attacks in Baghdad last Wednesday," it said, adding that, "Syria had forcefully denounced this terrorist act which left victims among the Iraqi people."

The statement added that Damascus had informed Baghdad that it was "waiting to receive an Iraqi delegation that would provide it with available evidence on the authors of the attack. If not, it will consider that what has been published in the Iraqi media is nothing but fabricated evidence for domestic political purposes."

"Syria has many times affirmed its commitment to the unity, independence, security and stability of Iraq and regrets that its relations with Iraq are dependant on domestic conflicts and, possibly, the agendas of foreigners."

Earlier, Iraq sparked a new diplomatic crisis with Syria on Tuesday by ordering home its ambassador to Damascus and demanding the handover of two men alleged to have ordered a deadly truck bombing in Baghdad.

The move came just hours before Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the bombings, which killed 95 people and left nearly 600 wounded.

"The cabinet demands the Syrian government hand over Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed and Sattam Farhan," said a statement quoting government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh, announcing the ambassador's recall. "The cabinet decided to ask that they be handed over for their direct role in carrying out the terrorist operation," it added.

On Sunday, Iraq aired a video showing a former police chief confessing to the bombing last Wednesday at the finance ministry, one of two attacks in the capital. The man said he had received orders from his Baathist boss Farhan, who along with Ahmed, was based in Syria according to his video confession.

The statement announcing the recall of the Iraqi ambassador, who was only appointed six months ago, went further and pointed the finger at Syria for harboring insurgents. "We also demand that Syria hand over every person wanted for committing murders and crimes against Iraqis and to kick out all terrorist organizations that use Syria as a base to launch and plan such operations against Iraqi people," it said.

But a statement on an Islamic website claimed the bombings were carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq, an Al-Qaeda insurgent group. "By the grace of God, the sons of the Islamic State of Iraq launched a new attack on the wounded heart of Baghdad to destroy the bastions of faithlessness and the citadels of the atheism of the apostate Safavid government," it said.

The bombings at the finance and foreign ministries culminated in the worst day of violence seen in Iraq for 18 months.

In the immediate aftermath, Syria condemned the atrocities, with the foreign ministry expressing "deep sorrow at the loss of a large number of victims" and reaffirming "our support for everything which upholds Iraq's security, integrity and stability."

During a visit to Baghdad on April 22, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri rebuffed Iraqi journalists who alleged that Baathist boss Ahmed was in Syria and questioned the premier if he was prepared to take action against him. "I don't know that name and I've never heard about him," Otri said.