Al-Maliki urges neighboring countries not to shelter criminals

BAGHDAD / Aswat a-Iraq: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Iraq ’s neighboring countries to respect the good-neighbor policy and not to shelter what he described as criminals who stand behind the recent bombings in Baghdad , asserting that these bombings are not local but was launched by some countries. “This came during his visit to al-Salihiya residential compound in Baghdad to distribute compensations to damaged families and promised to send wounded people who need to be treated abroad to international hospitals and repair the damaged buildings,” said an official statement released from al-Maliki’s office received by Iraqi News. “ Iraq ’s neighboring countries have to respect the good-neighbor policy,” he said. “Confessions made by those who launched this terrorist act proved that these attacks have not been planned in Iraq but waged by some countries,” the premier said. “We know who launched these attacks. The Baath party is as well known for its crimes as al-Qaeda,” he added. The premier called upon citizens to cooperate with security authorities. Earlier Tuesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said “the cabinet demands the Syrian government hand over Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed and Sattam Farhan. “The cabinet decided to ask that they be handed over for their direct role in carrying out the terrorist operation,” it added. On Sunday, Iraq aired a video showing a former police chief confessing to the bombing at the Finance Ministry, one of two truck bombs in the capital. The man said he had received orders from his Baathist boss Farhan, who, along with Ahmed, also a Baathist leader loyal to Saddam, was based in Syria , according to his video confession. SH (S)/SR 1