Syria trade ties pushed Iraq to oppose sanctions

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Source: AP

Iraq's close trade ties with Syria, from which it imports significant amounts of foodstuffs, pushed the Iraqi government to abstain from an Arab League vote imposing sanctions on Syria, officials say.

The vote on Sunday came after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ignored the League's calls for an end to a brutal crackdown on protesters which has seen thousands of people killed since March.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said 19 of the League's 22 members voted in favour of sanctions against Syria, Iraq abstained from the vote, and refused to implement it, while Lebanon "disassociated itself" from the decision.

Iraq also abstained from an earlier vote on suspending Syria from the Arab League.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-trade-ties-pushed-iraq-oppose-sanctions-180643956.html;_ylt=AskQToaLHO9oMFx4AqciuX4LewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTQ5cGVqNmpzBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBXb3JsZFNGIE1pZGRsZUVhc3RTU0YEcGtnAzAyZmMzMjg1LWMzNTEtMzNjZS1hYzk5LWI4MDYwZTRmMTRlMQRwb3MDMTIE

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1. Probably has more to do with the BIG gas pipeline deal between Iran/Iraq/Syria

that they just signed onto. It is/was going to compete with the U.S.-backed Nabucco pipeline.