Damascus denies statements attributed by Talibani to al-Shara

The Syrian foreign ministry yesterday rejected accusations raised by the Interim Governing Council in Iraq Jalal al-Talibani to the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara in including the Kurds to the list of beneficiaries from the fall of the Iraqi regime in addition to the US and Israel.

A source at the Syrian foreign ministry denied yesterday in a statement what was stated by the chairman of the Kurdistani National Federation party Talibani that al-Shara "stated that the beneficiary from the collapse of the former Iraqi regime were America, Israel and the Kurds."

The same source showed "strong regret over what was stated in al-Talibani statement," stressing that "al-Shara would not make such an accusation against the Kurds in Iraq who are part of the people of Iraq and part of the Arab nation."

When the source was asked about the invitation extended to the foreign minister of the Iraqi Interim government Hushyar Zibari to visit Syria, the source stressed that "the invitation is still valid and he is welcome in Syria." Talibani, at the invitation of the Syrian Vice President Abdul halim Khaddam will visit Syria by the end of the current month.