Syria Denies Crackdown On Iraqi Refugees.

A Syrian government official on Feb. 5 was reported to dismiss Iraqi accusations that Damascus was taking measures against Iraqi refugees while welcoming Sunni figures wanted by Baghdad. He rejected charges that Damascus was making problems for Iraqi refugees by restricting visa rules, saying the accusations were deliberately trying to sour Syria-Iraq relations.

The Associated Press on Feb. 5 quoted the official as saying: "Some Iraqi parties, which are linked to Washington, are unhappy with the positive developments that have occurred in Syrian-Iraqi relations". The official was referring to the restoration of diplomatic ties between Syria and Iraq in late 2006, more than two decades after they were cut over Syria's support of Iran in its 1980-88 war with Iraq.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh has said Iraqis going to Syria were only given 15-day entry visas and some were having to leave the country for at least 30 days before being allowed to return. Dabbagh on Feb. 2 told the US-financed al-Hurra television: "Thousands of Iraqis are being put in a difficult situation".

The Syrian official said Damascus was "exerting all-out efforts to help the Iraqi people in their ordeal... Syria was still standing alongside the Iraqis". However, the official said Damascus was overburdened by the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to Syria and said measures introduced by the government on Iraqi newcomers were taken for security and economic reasons. He added that granting residency permits to the Iraqis was under discussion.

Syria, with a population of 18 million, is the refuge of choice for those fleeing violence in Iraq primarily because of its relaxed entry regulations for Arabs, the relatively low cost of living and availability of schools and health care.