Syria, Iraq restore ties to combat militants

BAGHDAD – Iraq and Syria agreed to restore full diplomatic relations yesterday after a break of nearly a quarter of a century, a move Iraq hopes may help stem what it says is Syrian support for militants.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, making the first visit by a Syrian minister to Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, signed an accord with Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari in which they agreed US troops should stay in Iraq for now. Moualem had earlier called for the setting of a timetable for the withdrawal of 140 000 US troops.The document contained wording used by the Iraqi and US governments, saying troops should gradually withdraw once they were not needed.Amid calls for President George W Bush to open talks with US adversaries Syria and Iran to help stabilise Iraq, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is also flying to Tehran on Saturday.Washington and Iraqi leaders accuse Iran of backing Shi’ite militia groups and Syria of helping Sunni insurgents.How far either foreign government can limit mounting sectarian violence in Iraq is unclear, as hundreds of deaths a week fuel fear and hatred at the heart of Iraqi society.A US air strike on the Baghdad Shi’ite militia stronghold of Sadr City early on yesterday killed three people, including a baby, police and health officials said, sparking public anger.The US military said the strike came after US and Iraqi troops were fired on with rockets and machineguns during a raid in which they captured seven people, including a man they said led a group linked to the kidnap of an Iraqi-born US soldier.Syria and Iraq agreed to restore full diplomatic ties, reopening their embassies in Damascus and Baghdad.An agreement in principle was struck some months ago.Ambassadors with full rank would be named and flags raised over embassies shortly.Saddam Hussein and Syria’s late President Hafez al-Assad, leaders of rival wings of the Arab nationalist Baath party, severed ties when Syria sided with Shi’ite, non-Arab Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.Nampa-ReutersMoualem had earlier called for the setting of a timetable for the withdrawal of 140 000 US troops.The document contained wording used by the Iraqi and US governments, saying troops should gradually withdraw once they were not needed.Amid calls for President George W Bush to open talks with US adversaries Syria and Iran to help stabilise Iraq, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is also flying to Tehran on Saturday.Washington and Iraqi leaders accuse Iran of backing Shi’ite militia groups and Syria of helping Sunni insurgents.How far either foreign government can limit mounting sectarian violence in Iraq is unclear, as hundreds of deaths a week fuel fear and hatred at the heart of Iraqi society.A US air strike on the Baghdad Shi’ite militia stronghold of Sadr City early on yesterday killed three people, including a baby, police and health officials said, sparking public anger.The US military said the strike came after US and Iraqi troops were fired on with rockets and machineguns during a raid in which they captured seven people, including a man they said led a group linked to the kidnap of an Iraqi-born US soldier.Syria and Iraq agreed to restore full diplomatic ties, reopening their embassies in Damascus and Baghdad.An agreement in principle was struck some months ago.Ambassadors with full rank would be named and flags raised over embassies shortly.Saddam Hussein and Syria’s late President Hafez al-Assad, leaders of rival wings of the Arab nationalist Baath party, severed ties when Syria sided with Shi’ite, non-Arab Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.Nampa-Reuters