Report: Syria, Iraq lodge official objection over Britain's support for a Turkish dam

The British daily the Guardian issued on Saturday said that Syria has submitted an official objection to the British Foreign Ministry at the British support for building "Eleiso" dam at a cost of US $1 billion in Turkey.

The Guardian added that Syria believes that this dam will cause pollution in the waters of the Tigris. The paper reported that Jordan has also objected to the dam project on the grounds that it represents a violation of international law and will damage Iraq's rights to the waters of the said river.

The Guardian continued that the Syrian protest was expressed in the name of Iraq, which was not consulted by Turkey when the latter took the decision to build the dam.

The paper continued that a committee at the British Defense Ministry warned London against the consequences of helping in building the Turkish dam by Britain's Balfour Beatty company, because such help would "drag Britain into an armed struggle with Syria, Iraq and Turkey over the rights to the waters of the Tigris."

The paper said that despite warnings and protests the dam project will continue forward.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Ministry told the paper that the British company which is involved in the dam project did not make consultations with the British governments.