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Syria demands U.S. apology

Damascus: Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad said on Wednesday that Damascus wants the U.S. and Iraq to apologise to Syria for a U.S. commando raid mounted from Iraq, which killed eight and pledge not to repeat it again.

His comments came as the U.S. Embassy in Syria warned Americans in the country to remain alert and said it could close its doors to the public. Mr. Mekdad also rejected U.S. reports that Sunday’s raid killed a top Al-Qaeda in Iraq operative called Abu Ghadiyah, who intelligence suggests was about to conduct an attack in Iraq.

Mr. Mekdad said in an interview that all the victims were Syrian civilians. He said Iraq and the U.S. should compensate Syria. Syria’s government has also ordered an American community school and cultural centre closed and has complained to the United Nations.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry summoned a U.S. diplomat in Damascus and officially informed her of the government’s decision to have the American school and the U.S. cultural centre closed, said the news agency SANA.

It said the diplomat was asked to take necessary measures to implement the decision. But hardening Damascus’ position, Mr. Mekdad said Syria wants an investigation in Iraq and that Iraqi territory should not be used to attack Syria. — AP

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