Iraq to give Syria bombing evidence

BAGHDAD, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A security delegation from Iraq will present evidence related to the Aug. 19 bombings in Baghdad to Syrian officials in Ankara, a government spokesman said.

A series of coordinated attacks struck the Iraqi capital Aug. 19, killing as many as 100 and injuring perhaps thousands. Baghdad came forward in the immediate aftermath of the attacks with evidence it said pointed to Baath Party leaders planning the bombings from Syria.

Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman, said a security delegation from Baghdad would present evidence to their Syrian counterparts verifying their claims at a Tuesday meeting, Iraqi satellite channel al-Sumaria reports.

Baghdad asked Syria to hand over Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed and Satam Farhan, high-ranking Baath leaders, for their alleged role in the bombings.

Dabbagh said if Damascus were willing to cooperate on the matter, Baghdad would drop its demands for an international tribunal to investigate the matter.

Damascus denied the Baghdad claims on several occasions. A branch of al-Qaida in Iraq issued separate claims of responsibility for the attack.

The Syrian delegation is headed to Ankara as part of a broader visit planned by Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss trade relations with Turkey.

Assad is expected to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss Syria's relationship with Iraq.