Iraqi MP: Syrian Crisis May Spill Over into Region

(FNA)- Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee Humam Hamoudi warned against a regional spill out over the Syrian crisis, stressing that Iraq would burn up in flames if Syria is to fall prey to chaos.

"We are afraid of the takfiri groups in Syria. We are in real danger! Iraq will burn and the whole region will be set alight if such powers are allowed to succeed in Syria," Hamoudi told FNA.

He noted that Iraq national security is tied up to Syria.

"The longer the conflict in Syria is allowed to continue, the more dangerous terror groups will become as they will establish roots within the region and build their networks. Syria's conflict will degenerate into a regional conflict which could change the entire map of the Middle-East," he said.

"We are hoping to get all regional partners on board -- Iran and Turkey have already expressed their willingness to collaborate with Iraq on the matter. We hope Saudi Arabia and Qatar will join our efforts."

Addressing the matter of chemical weapons, Hamoudi confirmed that he had called on the international community to punish whoever had use chemical agents against civilian populations.

He stressed that Iraq is profoundly opposed to any form of military intervention in Syria as it would only complicate the situation and make matters worse than they already are.

"We are championing a cease-fire, the withdrawal of all foreign fighters from Syria in set up a national dialogue and work toward the set up of a transitional government before the organization of new elections.

"Whether or not President Basahr al-Assad will remain in power is purely up to the Syrian people."

He noted, "We cannot talk on behalf of the Syrian people, we can only support them."

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.

Early in September, the US, Israel and France have adopted the rhetoric of war against Syria over allegations that the Syrian government was behind a recent chemical attack near Damascus.

The call for military strike intensified after the militants operating inside Syria and the foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed on August 21 that hundreds had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in the Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar. The Syrian government has strongly denied the claim, accusing the militants of the attack.