Syria obligated to cooperate, Iraq says

BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Syria is bound by specific U.N. Security Council resolutions to hand over any suspected terrorist believed to be plotting against Iraq, officials say.

Iraq blames Baathist supporters exiled in Damascus for plotting the deadly Aug. 19 attacks in Baghdad that killed more than 100 people.

Sadiq al-Rukabi, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that Damascus was bound under U.N. Resolution 1618 to cooperate.

The United Nations adopted Resolution 1618 in 2005. In part, it "strongly urges" members states to "prevent the transit of terrorists to and from Iraq."

Rukabi said it is therefore "our right" to call on the international community "to stand with the Iraqi people against those lying in wait for them."

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the two Arab neighbors have a bilateral security agreement on extradition of suspected criminals, but Damascus has so far been uncooperative.

"We will not accept anything less than the extradition of these people who are accused of terrorist crimes and the expulsion of the organizations operating against Iraq," he said. "We will not accept anything less than this."

Damascus through its official Syrian Arab News Agency denied the allegations. A division of al-Qaida in Iraq issued separate claims of responsibility for the Aug. 19 attacks.