Iraq warns Turkey not to drag NATO into Syria

In the midst of a visit to Russia, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has warned Turkey not to exaggerate its differences with Syria and drag NATO into the conflict, The Hindu reports on Wednesday.

Mr. Maliki, a close ally of Iran, asserted that Syria was not threatening Turkey, which should not seek NATO intervention. “Turkey is being presumptuous, you could say, as if it were taking responsibility for solving the Syrian conflict instead of the Syrian people and wants to impose its own solution. For this reason the international community needs to stop Turkey from intervening,” he said.

Coinciding with Mr. Maliki’s barbs, Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to snub the Turkish leadership by deciding to postpone his visit to Ankara, Russia Today reported, citing the Kremlin press office.