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Iraq asks Trump administration to reconsider travel ban on Iraqis

Xinhua, January 30, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed "regret" over the latest restrictions by U.S. President Donald Trump on the entry of Iraqi nationals into the United States, and asked Washington to "reconsider" the travel ban on Iraqi citizens.

"It is very unfortunate that such U.S. decision issued against an allied country (Iraq), which is linked with the United States in a strategic partnership," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It is necessary that the new U.S. administration reconsider this wrong decision," the ministry said. "Iraq has a real desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries."

The ministry's statement came after the parliament's foreign affairs committee voted for recommendations that the Iraqi government should demand "reciprocation" and take countermeasures against the Trump decision.

"We reject the decision of President Trump as Iraq is on the frontline of fighting terrorism, and we are the side who gives martyrs and sacrifices for a war that we fight on behalf of the whole world," said Hanan al-Fatlawi, a member of the foreign affairs committee.

"It is unfair that Iraqis are treated in this way," she told a press conference after a committee meeting to discuss the U.S. decision.

"We ask the Iraqi government to take a similar action against the United States decision," she said, adding that the parliament committee has demanded that the Iraqi Foreign Ministry contact the U.S. government for review of their decision.

"Iraq is a sovereign country and will be forced to reciprocate, and that would affect negatively cooperation, including military cooperation in the war on Islamic State (IS) group," said Ahmed al-Jubouri, another lawmaker from the committee.

Trump's order has caused a uproar in Iraq, where more than 5,000 U.S. troops are deployed.

On Friday, Trump put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from Iraq and six other Muslim countries, saying the measures would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks. Endit