Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A diplomatic crisis is brewing between Iraq and Syria, which have withdrawn their ambassadors. Baghdad accuses Damascus of harboring terrorists involved in the attacks of 19 August on the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance in the Iraqi capital. The attacks, the most violent in recent years, caused 95 deaths and over 500 wounded.
The government led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has asked Damascus to extradite two Iraqis "directly connected" to the attacks: Mohammed Yunis al-Ahmed and Farhan Sattam. The two live in Syria and are prominent members of the former Ba'ath Party. Farhan was named on television as the author of the bomb attacks by a former policeman Iraqi involved in the explosion on the Ministry of Finance.
Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government, announcing the return home of the Iraqi ambassador has also asked Syria to hand over "all persons wanted for crimes of murder and destruction committed against the Iraqi people" and expel "terrorist organizations who use Syria as a headquarters and launching pad for planning terrorist operations against the Iraqi people. "
The statements of Baghdad and the decision to recall ambassadors provoked a quick response from Damascus, which has been withdrawn its envoy. In a statement given by press agency Sana, the government of Bashar Assad rejects all accusations of involvement in the bombings of the 19th and denies that they protect terrorists involved in attacks in Iraq.
The split between the two Arab countries, temporary for now, comes just under three years since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 2006 after 20 years of disaccord.
