Middle East News

Syria's al-Assad urges Iraqi unity in talks with al-Sadr (1st Lead)

Jul 20, 2009, 12:37 GMT

Damascus - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to press forward with Iraqi national reconciliation efforts in a Damascus meeting on Monday, Syria's state news agency said. Al-Assad told the Iraqi cleric that Syria stood ready to help Iraqis reconcile with each other for the sake of the stability of the country and the region, Syria's official SANA news agency reported. Al-Sadr expressed his appreciation for Syria's support 'for the interests of the Iraqi people' and for the unity of the country and its people, SANA said. A source in al-Sadr's office, requesting anonymity, earlier told the German Press Agency dpa that the cleric - who maintains a broad following, particularly among poor, Iraqi Shiite Muslims - would discuss 'the situation in Iraq after the withdrawal of US soldiers from Iraqi cities' at the end of June. During his last visit to Damascus, in February 2006, al-Sadr urged Sunni and Shiite Muslims to set aside their differences to counter 'the Western offensive against Islam and the Middle East.' 'The occupation is what is causing instability in Iraq,' he said in remarks widely carried by the press at the time. 'The exit of the occupier will be a victory for Iraq, and not, as it is said, a victory for the terrorists.'

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