By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey – Talks have come to a stand still after officials from Iraq and Syria met in Ankara to discuss Iraqi allegations that Syria is harboring militants allegedly involved in deadly bombings on August 19 which killed more than 100 people and wounded more than 600. Turkey has been acting as a peace broker throughout the crisis between the two nations, especially since the recall of envoys from each nation respectively last month.

Among those present at the high-level talks were Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

The Iraqi government spokesmen Ali al-Dabbagh claims that the Iraqi delegation has evidence to back their allegations including communications, financing and logistic support by people living in Syria and who have relations with al Qaeda. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki alleges that 90 percent of foreign fighters in Iraq have entered through Syria, a claim the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies. Further, Iraq claims that Syria is harboring two Baathist leaders who plotted the devastating bombings in August.  Iraq has demanded that Syria hand them over to Iraqi officials; a demand Syria has refused.

This diplomatic feud has strained already tarnished relations between the two countries, which saw a slight resurgence since the removal of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The talks collapsed after Syria refused acquiesce to Iraq’s demands that it extradite a list of people suspected to be involved in the bombings. Syria claims that the Iraqi government has not provided sufficient proof of involvement in the bombings to warrant extradition. The Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, speaking for the delegation, stated, “We consider this security meeting as the final one.  Such a meeting won’t happen in the future unless Syria positively responds to the unchallenged evidence and proof presented by Iraq. This is the final meeting.”

Moreover, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to the U.N. Security Council to set up an international tribunal to investigate the bombings. The Iraqi government hopes to ease tension by discussing the matter with United States Vice President Joe Biden during his visit.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Iraq and Syria to hold Ankara Talks – 13 September 2009

Yahoo News Agency – Iraqi Official: Talks with Syria over attacks fail – 16 September 2009

Reuters – Iraq says Syria must show will to stop militants – 11 September 2009