Dozens of Iraqi politicians have signed a formal request to parliament that Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara be blocked from entering the country for the Arab Summit next month in objection to his past ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Their request is a rebuke to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who revealed at the Sulaymaniyah Forum in Iraq on Wednesday that he had invited the Syrian President to attend the event in Baghdad scheduled for May 17.
“Yes, a formal invitation has been delivered to him, and he is welcome to attend and participate in the Arab Summit,” Mr Al Sudani told The National’s Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi during a discussion at the forum.
Following the event, a picture leaked of an unannounced meeting between Mr Al Sudani and Mr Al Shara that took place in Qatar on Tuesday. It was the first encounter between the two leaders and sparked outrage in Iraq, mainly among Iran-backed Shiite political factions and armed groups.
Many take issue with the Syrian President's past links with Al Qaeda in Iraq, where he served as a senior field leader for the terrorist group fighting American and Iraqi troops after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Iraqi Shiite legislator Yousif Al Kilaby said late on Saturday that more than 50 politicians signed the request, which asked the Speaker of Parliament to issue a block on Mr Al Shara entering the country “for the sake of the martyrs, their families, the wounded, the Iraqi people and the principles”.
The legislature has yet to announce a date for a session to discuss the request.
During the secret Qatar-brokered meeting between Mr Al Shara and Mr Al Sudani, the pair discussed “rapid developments in the region, particularly the continuing situation in Syria”, the official Iraqi News Agency said. It said Mr Al Sudani was “closely monitoring the developments in Syria” and that he called for a “comprehensive political process” in the country.
The Iraqi leader made an appeal to “protect Syria's diverse social, religious, and national fabric as well as safeguarding holy sites, houses of worship and places of prayer”, the agency said. It said he stressed the importance of Syria “taking practical and serious steps to combat the terrorist organisation ISIS”.
According to Syrian state media, the meeting addressed the issue of joint border security, with both sides “agreeing to strengthen field and intelligence co-ordination between the relevant authorities to counter shared threats”.
On the economic front, they discussed mechanisms to revitalise trade relations, ease the movement of goods and people through border crossings, encourage mutual investment, and explore new avenues for co-operation in energy, transport and infrastructure.
The fall of former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, who was a close ally of the government in Baghdad, has complicated relations between the neighbouring countries. Iraq remains scarred by decades of conflict since the US-led invasion, which was followed by a sectarian conflict, Al Qaeda insurgencies, and the rise of ISIS.
In January, Mr Al Shara was appointed interim president of Syria and pledged to form an inclusive transitional government that would repair and build up public institutions and run the country until elections, which he said could take up to five years to hold.
Syria has issued a constitutional declaration designed to serve as the foundation for the interim period led by Mr Al Shara. The declaration keeps a central role for Islamic law and guarantees women's rights and freedom of expression.
If Mr Al Shara attends the Arab Summit, it would be his first public visit to Iraq since he was jailed for years in the country on charges of joining Al Qaeda after the 2003 US-led invasion.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD
The line-up as it stands for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns
Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev
Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bludgeon Brothers v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
Singles match
Triple H v John Cena
To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
