Baghdad bridles at Turkey's military presence, warns of 'regional war'

Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi of Iraq addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri


BAGHDAD Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned Turkey that keeping troops in northern Iraq could lead to a "regional war," according to comments broadcast on state TV on Wednesday.


Abadi, who spoke at news conference Tuesday evening, was reacting to the Turkish parliament's decision last week to extend a mandate that allows military operations against terrorist organizations in Iraq and Syria for another year.


"We have asked more than once the Turkish side not to intervene in Iraqi matters and I fear that the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional war," Abadi said.


"The Turkish leadership's behavior is not acceptable and we don’t want to get into a military confrontation with Turkey."


The Iraqi parliament also voted on Tuesday a text that condemns the Turkish parliament's decision.


Turkey says it deployed troops at a base in northern Iraq late last year as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight against Islamic State which controls vast territory south of the border region, around the city of Mosul, and also in neighboring Syria. [nL8N14L06V]


The Iraqi government says it never invited such a force and considers the Turkish troops as occupiers.


(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Next In World News




Thailand bars entry to teenage Hong Kong activist whose supporters blame China


BANGKOK/HONG KONG Thailand on Wednesday barred entry to a Hong Kong student activist who helped organize pro-democracy protests in the Chinese-ruled city in 2014, with his supporters blaming China for the move.




Hurricane Matthew hits Haiti and Cuba, takes aim at Bahamas, U.S.


LES CAYES, Haiti/GUANTANAMO, Cuba Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, powered towards the Bahamas and the U.S. coast early on Wednesday after battering Haiti and Cuba with torrential rain, wreaking havoc among the struggling Haitian population.




Protests force week-long shutdown at South Africa's Wits University


JOHANNESBURG Clashes between police and student protesters forced South Africa's Wits University to suspend classes for the second time in less than a month, as unrest mounted again over education costs.

From Around the Web Promoted by Taboola
Editor's Pick




Pictures