Setback for Iranian mediation, al-Seistani warns occupation from entering Najaf, American criticizes Syria, appeals its help
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 4/16/2004

The US administration yesterday called on Syria to give "every help" possible to ease down the conditions in Iraq, at a time when leaders of the American army were warning her from the continued "sneaking of foreign fighters from its lands," while the Iranian mediation failed to solve the crisis between Muqtada al-Sader and the occupation forces with the assassination of one Iranian diplomat in front of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.

Meantime, negotiations continued, led by the American administrator of Iraq ( directly) with the leaders of al-Falujja and at the mediation of al-Dawa party, Iraq wing with al-Sader in al-Najaf, which the Shiite clergy Ayatullah al-Seistani warned the American forces from breaking in, in a step coincided with continued reciprocated military preparations in the surroundings of the two besieged cities, amid American warnings that the fragile truce will not last for ever in Falujja and threats to use power against al-Sader.

Meanwhile, the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that the US decided to extend the period of the deployment of 20,000 American troops in Iraq, noting that the leader of the central American forces Gen. John Abizaid asked for additional armed forces for the coming phase and "I have agreed his request." Rumsfeld also strongly criticized the rebellious elements in Iraq. He said he will not let "a small group of terrorists to decide the fate of the 25 million Iraqis." He considered that al-Sader attempt to maintain a people's uprising is on its way to failure." He also said that the situation in al-Falujja is under control."

Meanwhile, in contacts which are the first of its kind at this level since the recent visit made by the US secretary of state to Syria one year before, the American ambassador in Damascus Margaret Scooby conveyed two messages to each the Syrian President from his American counterpart George W. Bush and to foreign minister al-Shara from his American peer Colin Powell.

News reports said that Syria's response to the American request will be within the context of Damascus dealing with the Iraqi file on the ground of which it had built its stances to restore back stability to Iraq and preserving its unity and territorial integrity and to hand over quickly the authority to an elected national government and eventually removal of the occupation.

Previous Stories:
  Iranian mediation delegation between Washington and al- Sader arrives in Iraq   (4/15/2004)
  Khatami-deplores incidents in Iraq   (4/12/2004)
  Asefi underlines regional coordination over Iraq   (1/12/2004)

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