8/12/2012

BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Kuwaiti newspaper, quoting Iraqi sources, that "a deal was arranged between Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki to hand over ex-regime vice-president Izzat al-Douri and Baath Party Regional Leader Younis al-Ahmed vis-à-vis Iraqi support to the Syrian regime.

National Alliance MP Hassoun Ali al-Fatlawi disclosed to Kuwaiti al-Siyasa daily that "important steps were taken by Maliki to have an agreement with the Syrian government to hand over the previous regime officials and other Baathist members who are leading the terrorist attacks in Iraq".

He added that Iraqi security reports said that both Baathist leaders are using the current situation in Syria to have alliances with Qaeda organization in order to return to the Iraqi arena and implement new major offensives in the future.

The Higher Islamic Council member, pointed out that "time is ripe to achieve better results in this direction, compared to previous failures to hand them over.

Fatlawi pointed out the rejection of the Syrian regime to hand over the Baath members by saying they have the same creed and fears of exposing the role of the Syrian regime in conducting terrorist actions in Iraq.

Arrest warrants were handed over to the Syrian regime, but in vein, as reported by State of Law MP Adnan al-Shahmani.

Shahmani added that "there is contradictory news on the presence of Douri and al-Ahmed in Damascus, but mostly they are there despite the tough Syrian conditions".

Wifaq Party sources, headed by Iyad Alawi, disclosed that "there are negotiations between Baghdad and Damascus to arrest both Baathist leaders, in particular".

The sources added that Maliki is ready to extend any logistic support to the Syrian regime to achieve this end, because "it will be his great victory within the Shiite population and possible success to have another term in future elections in 2014".

Alawi's sources reported that the Syrian regime ordered not to permit the departure of Douri and al-Ahmed to leave Syria, which means that Assad wants to play the Baathist cards at the end of the game.

Wifaq Party information said that Iraq warned the Syrians of the possibility of fleeing of Douri and al-Ahmed to some Gulf capitals, for changing their stands on the Iranian and Hizb Allah questions.


© Aswat Aliraq 2012