In a phone conversation with Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday, Haider al-Abadi also reiterated his stance on the territorial integrity of his country and requested the Turkish government to withdraw its troops from the Iraqi territory immediately, the Arabic-language al-Soumeria news website reported.
Turkish forces are not fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, so there is no reason why Ankara has sent its military trainers deep inside the Iraqi border, in a place like Mosul, and put their lives at risk. Instead, there are other safe camps in other areas, which they can go, Abadi further said, adding that Daesh terrorists are much closer to Turkish borders from the Syrian side, yet Ankara does not fight with them.
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari also told a press conference that Baghdad might resort to military action to defend its sovereignty if Ankara does not pull back its troops from the Iraqi territory.
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On December 4, Turkey deployed some 150 soldiers, equipped with heavy weapons and backed by 20 to 25 tanks, to the outskirts of Mosul, the capital of Iraqs Nineveh province. (Reuters)[/caption]The remarks came less than a month after Turkey deployed some 150soldiers, equipped with heavy weapons and backed by20 to 25 tanks,to the outskirts of the city of Mosul, the capital of Iraqs northern province of Nineveh.
Ankara claimed the deployment was part of a mission to train and equip Iraqi Kurdish Peshmergaforces in the fight againstDaesh terrorists, butBaghdad denounced the act as a violation of Iraq's national sovereignty since they entered the Iraqi territory without the knowledge or approval of the central government in Baghdad.
On December 19, Turkey announced that it had begun withdrawing troops following an appeal by US President Barack Obama. Yet Baghdad says the Turkish forces will only be relocated from one area to another onthe Iraqi soil.
Also on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the Iraqi premier on the recent liberation of Ramadi from Daesh terrorists and offered help to restore the rule of law as well as basic services in the city.
The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence since Daesh mounted an offensive in the country in June 2014. The Iraqi army together with volunteer fighters has been engaged in operations to liberate militant-controlled regions.
By Press TV
