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| Baghdad condemns 'US Syria raid' | Baghdad condemns 'US Syria raid' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Iraq has denounced a raid into Syria at the weekend, saying it does not want its territory to be used as a launch-point for US attacks on its neighbours. | Iraq has denounced a raid into Syria at the weekend, saying it does not want its territory to be used as a launch-point for US attacks on its neighbours. |
| Syria has also condemned the attack, which it said killed eight civilians, as an act of "terrorist aggression". | Syria has also condemned the attack, which it said killed eight civilians, as an act of "terrorist aggression". |
| Unnamed US officials have said the operation killed a key figure involved in the smuggling of fighters into Iraq. | Unnamed US officials have said the operation killed a key figure involved in the smuggling of fighters into Iraq. |
| Meanwhile, Iraq's cabinet authorised PM Nouri Maliki to put forward proposed changes to a security pact with the US. | |
| A government spokesman said the suggested amendments, agreed at a cabinet meeting, addressed both the wording and the content of the Status of Forces Agreement. | A government spokesman said the suggested amendments, agreed at a cabinet meeting, addressed both the wording and the content of the Status of Forces Agreement. |
| The deal, known as SOFA, will govern US troop presence in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of 2008. | The deal, known as SOFA, will govern US troop presence in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of 2008. |
| The US and Iraqi governments had previously said the pact, which would authorise the presence of US troops in Iraq until 2011, was final and could not be amended - only accepted or rejected by the Iraqi parliament. | The US and Iraqi governments had previously said the pact, which would authorise the presence of US troops in Iraq until 2011, was final and could not be amended - only accepted or rejected by the Iraqi parliament. |
| No denial | No denial |
| Speaking after the cabinet meeting, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh explicitly criticised the US over the reported helicopter strike. | Speaking after the cabinet meeting, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh explicitly criticised the US over the reported helicopter strike. |
| "The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," he said. | "The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," he said. |
| In pictures: Grief and anger in SyriaSyria fears damage to Europe ties | In pictures: Grief and anger in SyriaSyria fears damage to Europe ties |
| "We call upon American forces not to repeat such activities and Baghdad has launched an investigation into the strike." | "We call upon American forces not to repeat such activities and Baghdad has launched an investigation into the strike." |
| But he urged Damascus to prevent groups using Syrian territory for "training and sending terrorists for attacks on Iraq and its people". | But he urged Damascus to prevent groups using Syrian territory for "training and sending terrorists for attacks on Iraq and its people". |
| The White House has neither confirmed nor denied Sunday's strike near Abu Kamal, some eight kilometres (five miles) north of Iraq's border with Syria. | The White House has neither confirmed nor denied Sunday's strike near Abu Kamal, some eight kilometres (five miles) north of Iraq's border with Syria. |
| An unnamed US official told Reuters news agency the raid killed Iraqi Abu Ghadiyah, a former lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed in 2006. | An unnamed US official told Reuters news agency the raid killed Iraqi Abu Ghadiyah, a former lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed in 2006. |
| "It was a successful operation. [Abu Ghadiyah] is believed to be dead. This undoubtedly will have a debilitating effect on this foreign fighter smuggling network," the official said. | "It was a successful operation. [Abu Ghadiyah] is believed to be dead. This undoubtedly will have a debilitating effect on this foreign fighter smuggling network," the official said. |
| A second official told the agency that only people the forces considered a threat had been targeted and that women and children were alive when the team left. | A second official told the agency that only people the forces considered a threat had been targeted and that women and children were alive when the team left. |
| A US intelligence official told Associated Press news agency there was information that Abu Ghadiyah was about to carry out an attack in Iraq and that this had led to the raid. | A US intelligence official told Associated Press news agency there was information that Abu Ghadiyah was about to carry out an attack in Iraq and that this had led to the raid. |
| Civilian victims? | Civilian victims? |
| If confirmed, Sunday's strike would be the first US attack in Syria since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. | If confirmed, Sunday's strike would be the first US attack in Syria since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. |
| The attack took place during the afternoon rest period, with a troop assault preferred over a missile strike to reduce civilian casualties, the intelligence official said. | The attack took place during the afternoon rest period, with a troop assault preferred over a missile strike to reduce civilian casualties, the intelligence official said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It's hard to believe the Syrians could not see this coming G Battista, BrazilSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY It's hard to believe the Syrians could not see this coming G Battista, BrazilSend us your comments |
| The US had repeatedly asked Syria to hand over Abu Ghadiyah but Damascus said it was monitoring his activities, another US military official told AP. | The US had repeatedly asked Syria to hand over Abu Ghadiyah but Damascus said it was monitoring his activities, another US military official told AP. |
| Newly released amateur footage said to show the raid shows villagers pointing to the sky as helicopters fly in. | Newly released amateur footage said to show the raid shows villagers pointing to the sky as helicopters fly in. |
| The mobile phone video does not show any landings but has images purportedly from after the attack, showing a crowd looking at blood-stained bodies. The authenticity of the video has not been verified. | The mobile phone video does not show any landings but has images purportedly from after the attack, showing a crowd looking at blood-stained bodies. The authenticity of the video has not been verified. |
| Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said all the victims - a father and his three children, a farm guard and his wife, and a fisherman - were civilian. | Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said all the victims - a father and his three children, a farm guard and his wife, and a fisherman - were civilian. |
| He said: "Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression. We consider this criminal and terrorist action." | He said: "Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression. We consider this criminal and terrorist action." |
| Mr Muallem, speaking in London, said the US knew "full well that we stand against al-Qaeda. They know full well we are trying to tighten our border with Iraq". | Mr Muallem, speaking in London, said the US knew "full well that we stand against al-Qaeda. They know full well we are trying to tighten our border with Iraq". |
| Asked if Syria would use force if a similar operation was mounted, he said: "As long as you are saying if, I tell you, if they do it again, we will defend our territories." | Asked if Syria would use force if a similar operation was mounted, he said: "As long as you are saying if, I tell you, if they do it again, we will defend our territories." |