Syrian president sends FM to Arab League summit in Baghdad
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Baghdad on Friday for the Arab League summit. He is attending instead of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa whose invitation to the event was opposed by many in Iraq.
On arriving in the Iraqi capital, Shaibani told Iraqi state media that 'Syrian security is shared with Iraq, and we want coordination in various fields."
He added that during the summit he will emphasize the end of 'foreign interventions' in Syria.
The gathering of Arab leaders will be held on Saturday. Several high-profile figures, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have already arrived in Baghdad to attend the 34th edition of the annual event.
Sharaa's office confirmed on Monday that Shaibani would represent Syria at the summit, ending weeks of speculation over whether Sharaa would attend.
Sharaa's decision to skip the summit follows controversy over his participation. On Monday night, protesters took to the streets in Iraq's Shiite-majority southern province of Basra, chanting slogans against Sharaa using his nom de guerre 'Jolani.' Demonstrators shouted, 'No, no to Jolani. No, no to terrorism.'
The new Syrian leader has jihadist roots. He was elected interim president in late January after a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which he commanded before its dissolution and merger into the Syrian defense ministry - toppled the regime of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.
While most Arab countries congratulated Sharaa on his appointment as president, Iraq withheld formal recognition, reflecting Baghdad's cautious stance toward the new leadership that has historic ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS).
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