Thursday, November 02, 2006
Blair asks Syria for cooperation in Iraq
Region, Security
Tony Blair is pressing Syria to help quell sectarian bloodshed in Iraq. The Prime Minister sent his senior foreign policy adviser to meet the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, for talks aimed at gaining the country's co-operation, the British embassy in Damascus confirmed. He sent Nigel Sheinwald on the announced visit on Monday. The move comes as the United States and Britain seek ways to reduce the killing. Damascus is said to have influence with the insurgents. Downing Street rejected suggestions the overture was part of an effort by the United States and Britain aimed at pressing Iraq's neighbours to assist with security duties, allowing coalition troops to withdraw.
The US and Iraq accuse Syria of giving support to the insurgency, principally by not doing enough to stop would-be fighters from crossing from Syria into Iraq. A number of key members of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime also took refuge in Syria after his overthrow. Syria rejects allegations that it is backing the insurgency, saying US and Iraqi government forces fail to police the long Syrian-Iraqi border. The talks come as the Syrian regime is being snubbed not only by the West but by traditional Arab allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
