Iraqi PM calls Western intervention in Syria a 'dead end'

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Amman - Wasan Al Rantisi, Baghdad - Jaafar Al Nasrawi, Cairo - Akram Ali  Authorities in Jordan and Iraq have declared a "high state of alert" following the current turmoil in Syria. The security call comes as United States and Britain laid out their cas e for punitive military strikes against Damascus over a suspected poisonous gas attack. The United States stated it deployed a fifth destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean while Russia was reportedly sending in two warships and Britain dispatched fighter jets to Cyprus.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Thursday to defend his country from any potential attacks, whilst UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed for the West to give peace a chance, saying his inspectors would report back to him by Saturday on their probe into the alleged use of internationally banned chemical weapons in the attack that horrified the world.
The mood among Damascus residents was fearful, while security forces prepared for possible air attacks by pulling back soldiers from potential targets and introducing tougher controls at roadblocks and hospitals.
In Iraq and Jordan, similar scenes were visible as an unprecedented state of anxiety and anticipation dominated citizens.
Iraqi author Hussein al-Qasid told Arab Today that citizens remained cautious in anticipation of attacks on Syria. He expressed fears over forces imposing curfews to contain the security situation in the country.
Television presenter, Hashim al-Shama said to Arab Today that the people of Iraq refused the threats against Syria, adding: "We do not want a repetition of Iraq in Syria," referring to the invasion of Iraq by United States in 2003.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dismissed Western military action in neighbouring Syria as a "dead end" on Wednesday, saying: "Nothing is obvious on the horizon other than destruction, catastrophe and a civil war that has no winner." The Iraqi leader added that events in Syria "had a greater impact on Iraq" than events in any other regional country did, adding that those events were "the most explosive and dangerous in the region".
Maliki also announced that all security and political forces in Baghdad and all of Iraq were on a "high state of alert" to mitigate any effects the war might have within Iraq.
On Thursday, Jordanian military forces begun moving towards northern borders with Syria in anticipation of any violent developments.
Jordan's National Front for Reform, led by Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah eNsour, expressed its sympathy with Syrians, stating that they are the ones who will be most affected by the military strike.
The group declared its support for the struggle of Syrians to "gain their constitutional and legal rights" and to establish a democratic state. In a statement, the party also added that any potential strike against Syria will "only be in the interest of Israel."
Meanwhile, Egypt's Minister of Planning Ashraf al-Araby urged that any military interference in Syria will "negatively affect" the Egyptian economy, adding that the country was "working hard" to make improvements on this end.
He expressed his government's keenness to keep relations with different countries, including Turkey, Qatar and the US.