Iraq, Syria recall envoys in tit-for-tat moves

BAGHDAD (Reuters/AFP) - Iraq and Syria recalled their ambassadors on Tuesday after Baghdad demanded Damascus hand over two people it says masterminded bombings in the Iraqi capital last week which killed almost 100 people. The Iraqi government has blamed supporters of Saddam Husseins outlawed Baath party for massive truck bombs and other attacks last Wednesday, and says it has already captured some suspects it deems responsible. In a tape aired on Sunday, one man captured said he acted under orders from a man in Syria called Sattam Farhan, a member of a wing of the Baath party headed by Mohammad Younis al-Ahmed. The cabinet requests (that Syria) hand over Mohammad Younis al-Ahmed and Sattam Farhan for their direct role in Wednesdays terrorist act, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. Dabbagh said the Foreign Ministry would ask Syria to hand over all those wanted for crimes in Iraq and to banish the terrorist organisations that use Syria as a base from which to carry out terrorist acts against the Iraqi nation. He also said the cabinet had summoned Iraqs ambassador to Syria back to Baghdad to discuss the issue, prompting the Syrian government to recall its ambassador to Iraq in response. Syrias official news agency SANA, quoting an official Syrian source, rebuffed Dabbaghs comments about the attacks, which Damascus has strongly condemned as a terrorist act. Damascus recalled its ambassador to Iraq after Baghdad ordered home its envoy and demanded the handover of two men alleged behind a deadly truck bombing last week, the Foreign Ministry said. Syria informed the Iraqi side of its readiness to receive an Iraqi delegation and discuss with it available evidence on the perpetrators of the bombings. Otherwise, it would consider what is broadcast on Iraqi media as evidence fabricated for domestic political goals, the source said. In response to the recalling by the Iraqi government of the Iraqi ambassador for consultation, Syria has decided to recall its ambassador to Baghdad, a Foreign Ministry statement said. Syria categorically rejects the statement of the spokesman of the Iraqi government regarding the bloody attacks in Baghdad last Wednesday, it said, adding that, Syria had forcefully denounced this terrorist act which left victims among the Iraqi people.

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