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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-pad 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 urged the UN Security Council to hold the US responsible for the attack, which it says killed eight civilians.
And Syria's cabinet called the attack "barbaric", ordering a US school and cultural centre in Damascus to be shut.
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. But Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem denied the US claims calling them "totally unjustified".
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. 'War crime attempt'
The deal, known as SOFA, will govern US troop presence in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of 2008. He branded the attack a "war crime attempt" and said it had claimed the lives of civilians - a father and his three children, a farm guard and his wife, and a fisherman.
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. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7694001.stm">In pictures: Grief and anger in Syria class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7694301.stm">Syria fears damage to Europe ties Speaking after a Baghdad cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh also explicitly criticised the US over the unconfirmed helicopter strike.
No denial
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
"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.
Syria had protested to the UN Security Council in a letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the state news agency Sana said on Tuesday.
It urged the Security Council "to hold the aggressor responsible for the deaths of the innocent Syrian nationals".
'Successful operation'
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.
HAVE YOUR SAY It's hard to believe the Syrians could not see this coming G Battista, BrazilSend us your comments
"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 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?
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 reportedly 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
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. Meanwhile Iraq's cabinet authorised PM Nouri Maliki to put forward unspecified proposed changes to a security pact with the US.
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 Status of Forces Agreement will govern US troop presence in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of 2008.
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. 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.
He said: "Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression. We consider this criminal and terrorist action." On Tuesday, the White House said it was reluctant to accept any changes to the agreement.
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."