Region | Iraq
Syrian minister criticises Iraq-US security pact
The Syrian information minister on Monday criticised the Iraq-US security pact, saying it amounted to an "award to the occupiers" of Iraq.
- Agencies
- Published: 15:45 November 17, 2008
Damascus: The Syrian information minister on Monday criticised the Iraq-US security pact, saying it amounted to an "award to the occupiers" of Iraq.
Also, a Syrian government newspaper warned the Iraqi-US pact would give Washington a free hand to interfere in the affairs of neighbouring countries.
The pact, approved by the Iraqi Cabinet on Sunday, would allow US troops to stay in Iraq for three more years.
The deal is to go before the Iraqi parliament for final approval later in November.
Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said that Iraqis should get an apology from Washington for the damage done to their country rather than reward them with the pact.
"We shouldn't give occupiers any reward or prize...On the contrary, they (the US) should apologise for the damage they have caused (in Iraq)," Bilal told The Associated Press.
On behalf of Syria, Bilal said: "We have told our brothers in Iraq that turning Iraq into a US base to launch aggression on neighbouring countries would be a big tragedy."
The pact was also criticized by Syrian government newspaper Al Thawra, which in an editorial on Monday warned that the deal would give the US a free hand to interfere in the affairs of neighbouring countries.
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