Jaafari sends a delegation to Syria, security agreement with Turkey

The Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said that Iraq will send a delegation to Damascus shortly to ask for Syria's support to halt what Baghdad says is the sneaking of fighters from the Syrian side of the borders.

In statements he made in Ankara which he had arrived on Friday in his first foreign visit after the formation of his new government, al-Jaafari vowed to oppress the Kurdish fighters. Turkey says Kurdish fighters launch attacks on the south east of the country starting as from the north of Iraq. He added that his government will control Iraq's borders and will ask Iraq's neighboring states to take similar measures.

Al-Jaafari made assurances to Turkey that the city of Karkouk will not be mainly in the hands of Kurds, noting this city is a reflection of the demographic diversity of Iraq and it will be protected as part of a united Iraq.

Turkey, however, considers itself as a protector for the Iraqi Turkmans with whom it is linked with close language and ethnic relations.

Al-Jaafari will discuss in the visit, which will last for two days, with the Turkish officials, security issues and Turkey's contribution to the rebuilding Iraq. The talks will also deal with bilateral relations in the economic fields especially electricity, water and oil.