'No support' for Iraqis fighting in Syria - Zebari

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari has told HARDtalk's Zeinab Badawi that his government does not encourage or support Iraqis going to fight in Syria.

"We are for a political solution, we are for respect for the will of the Syrian people," said Mr Zebari, adding that they are "neutral".

Mr Zebari has previously said he wanted to rehabilitate Iraq's image after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

But since 2003 tens of thousands of civilians have died as a result of sectarian killings and a violent insurgency in Iraq, and it is now overlapping with sectarianism in neighbouring Syria.

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You can watch the full interview on BBC World News on Wednesday 24 July at 14:30 and 20:30 GMT and on Thursday 25 July at 00:30 BST on the BBC News Channel.

Struggle for Iraq

Syria Conflict