Iraqi foreign ministry called on Syrian govt. to release reporter – official

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi foreign ministry official revealed that an official memo was sent to the Syrian government calling for the release of Iraqi journalist Haifaa al-Husseini, detained by Syrian security authorities for six days now, according to al-Fayhaa channel. “The foreign ministry is following up the issue of Husseini in direct contacts via the Iraqi diplomatic channels in Damascus to speed up her release,” Labid Abawi, the Iraqi undersecretary for foreign affairs, said in statements published by al-Fayhaa channel’s web site. Earlier on Friday, the Iraqi Journalists’ Syndicate called on the Syrian government to intervene to release Husseini. “Contacts are underway with Syrian official and syndicate organizations to intervene for the release of Husseini, who was arrested five days ago in al-Mazza area, the Syrian capital Damascus, by Syrian security agencies,” the syndicate chairman, Mouayad al-Lami, told IraqiNews.com news agency. “There were no apparent reasons for the Syrian security forces’ raid on al-Fayhaa channel office and the detention of its director,” Lami said. AmR (P) 1