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Turkey summons Iraqi ambassador over decision on removing Bashiqa camp

Xinhua, October 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi ambassador to Ankara on Wednesday, after the Iraqi parliament decided to remove the Bashiqa camp where Turkish troops train Iraqi forces, Daily Sabah reported.

Baghdad described on Tuesday Turkey's deployment of troops to the site near Mosul "a violation of Iraqi sovereignty" and called them "occupiers," insisting the Turkish forces be withdrawn.

"We strongly condemn the Iraqi parliament's unacceptable decision, including dirty accusations against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," the Turkish Foreign ministry said in a statement.

Turkey said that the Bashiqa camp aimed to protect Turkish servicemen training Iraqi volunteers to fight the IS.

The statement urged Iraqi authorities to "take the friendly hand offered by Turkey" for the benefit of Iraq and the region "in a period which is so critical in terms of fighting Daesh."

Some 150 soldiers and up to 25 tanks were stationed in the Bashiqa camp, located about 30 kilometers northeast of Mosul.

According to the report, the training mission has been in operation since March 2015 and was not assigned to combat duties.

Ankara said that Turkish soldiers were sent to Bashiqa at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. Endit