Posted on 05/30/2005 8:56:51 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Syrian authorities, under heavy American pressure to prevent foreign fighters from crossing into Iraq, have extradited more than 30 Saudis who may have sought to join the Iraqi insurgency, officials said Monday.
Also Monday, the head of Syria's state-run television urged Damascus to require entry visas to safeguard Syrian security.
Syria does not currently require entry visas for citizens of Arab countries, making it both an attractive holiday destination and an easier route for Arab foreign fighters.
This policy, Diana Jabbour wrote in an editorial published in the Al-Thawra government newspaper, can attract "fugitives and suspects" to Syria. She suggested visas only be waived for citizens of countries that do not require them for Syrians.
Word of the extradition comes amid intense pressure from the United States, which accuses Damascus of not doing enough to guard its border with Iraq and of permitting insurgents to stage their operations from Syria.
Damascus denies these accusations, and Syrian officials have said they are doing all they can to close the long and remote border with Iraq.
Despite the extraditions and heavy U.S. pressure, airport security officials said Monday that security had not been increased at the nation's main port of entry, Damascus' international airport.
In Riyadh, authorities said they were interrogating the extradited Saudis. But Brig. Mansour al-Turki, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said some of those who were extradited might be tied to other crimes.
"You can't take for granted that everyone arrested is connected to terrorism because some of them are connected with other crimes or with outstanding court summons," he said.
Al-Turki said he did not have exact figures on how many Saudis were sent back by Syria.
More than 1,200 people have been arrested in recent weeks for trying to cross the border into Iraq and many were returned to their home countries because of suspicions that they were trying to join the insurgency, according to Syria's U.N. ambassador, Fayssal Mekdad.
"Syria has never been friendly to such elements, who are declared enemies of Syria as well," Mekdad said.
Syria provided the United States with intelligence on al-Qaida after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But President Bush ordered sanctions against Damascus a year ago after long-standing complaints that Syria was supporting terrorism and undermining U.S. efforts in Iraq.
"Heavy American Pressure" had nothing to do with the final straw.
The failed coup in Syria shortaly after the Lebanon pullout had a 'sobering' effect on Assad and his 'man of many faces' routine.
With friends like the Saudis who needs enemies. NSNR
I know that's collective punishment, but in that society, it's the only thing that will work. Someone is finanacing these guys, they need to be found and jailed. Perhaps if the royal family told the people that the fortunes would be split up among the people who locate them, they will have some success.
The Saudis are being fiendly..
What is terrorism to one man, is a ticket to paradise to the other.
Untill we put down mad man moe's (p*ss be on him) rabid dogs of death cult, we will be repeatedly bitten.
It is a simple thing to do actually, destroy their Idol/God/Kubah/Death Rock.
lol, yeah, with fiends like them, who needs enemies?
Fiendly? One-eyed jacks being stealthy. NSNR
This sounds like a red herring if there ever was one. If the guy had said we shouldn't take for granted they were terrorists because they were gay, he might've been onto something, but we already know terrorists tend to be worldly thugs and bruts, so by saying what he did, he supports the argument rather than refutes the argument.
HF
Syrian dictatorship whisling past the graveyard.. and "lookin" busy.. for fear of being "noticed"..
I have a pregnant idea.
State diplomatically "Either you are with us, or you are against us", and this gray area BS soon will become a moot issue.
Has anyone pursued such a diplomatic move?
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