Syria: Iraqs future is in jeopardy

1/27/2005 3:00:00 PM GMT

Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa said that Syria was deeply concerned and worried over the bloody and increasing violence in neighboring Iraq.

In an interview with the Beirut daily As-Safir, Sharaa said; "Iraq is going through a very sensitive phase and we hope the Iraqi people will not allow strife-seekers to have their way in Iraq".

The Syrian FM said that his country, which has a long border with Iraq, was deeply worried about the future of the war-torn country, a matter he said Syrian President Bashar Assad discussed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his latest visit to Moscow. Sharaa too, was in Moscow to meet with several Russian leaders.

"Syria and Russia share common vision on Iraq and its future," he said without elaborating.

Sharaa denied any Russian mediation between Syria and Israel, however, he called for a bigger Russian role in the Middle East to revive the stalled peace process and bring it back on track.

Less than one tenth of the Iraqis living in Syria turned out for registration for Iraq's national election, to be held next Sunday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced.

Only 16,500 out of 200,000 Iraqis eligible for vote in Syria registered in Damascus centers for ballots, Luis Maltiz, an IOM officer for vote of Iraqi expatriates, told a press conference.

He added that the IOM, however, expected larger number of registrations.

But, Maltiz said that the number they got now was "almost satisfying".

Maltiz said that the IOM, with the assistance of the Syrian Interior Ministry, provided tight security at registration centers in Damascus.

Eight security guards are being deployed at each center, and journalists who requested to be present were asked to ask for permission in advance.

There are 75 registration stations are opened from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 for Iraqis living in Middle East countries, North America, Europe and Australia.

Registration has been extended for two days due to low registration rate.

According to recent statistics, about 280,000 Iraqis, living abroad, have registered for polling, almost one fourth of the total qualified exile voters.