Iraqi FM criticizes AL's sanctions against Syria

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari criticized Monday the sanctions by the Arab League (AL) against Syria over its crackdown of eight-month uprising. "The new decision presented (by the AL) was very severe and more than anticipated by many countries," Zebari told a news conference in his ministry's building in central Baghdad. "This is the first time for the Arab League to take such punitive action against one of its members," Zebari told reporters. He said that his country is not supporting a single package of punitive procedures against Syria, "it supposes to be gradual steps, as the goal (of the procedures) is to make it clear to the Syrian government that it is for its interests to carry out national dialogue with its people." Iraq on Saturday abstained from the vote over the AL's decision, under which the activities of the Syrian delegation in the pan- Arab body would be suspended, effective on Wednesday. The AL also called on its members to withdraw their ambassadors in Syria and urged sanctions on Damascus until a peace plan it brokered is implemented. The position of the Iraqi government toward the sanctions was independent and away from any pressures from other countries, Zebari said without naming any country that might put pressures on Iraq not to support the AL's decision. Earlier, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement that the AL's sanctions against Syria are "unacceptable" and will complicate the situation in Syria because the AL will lose all communications channels with Damascus. He described the AL's decision as "a very serious issue," noting that the Arabs themselves are transferring Syria's crisis to the United Nations and to the internationalization. "Security and stability in Syria is important for Iraq, and the Iraqi government has called on the Syrian government to hold dialogue with the opposition and carry out reforms demanded by the people of Syria," Dabbagh said.