Iraqi PM warns of arming conflict in Syria

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki on Monday warned of consequences on Syria and the entire region in case of arming the conflicting parties in Syria. Maliki's comments came as he received European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in his office in Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses a number of Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. "There is a risk in going toward arming (in Syria), which will lead to entirely destroy Syria and vandalize its social fabric, and disturb the situations in the region, particularly the neighboring countries of Syria," Maliki said in a statement posted on his office's website. Maliki reiterated Iraq's stance calling for a political solution to the Syrian crisis based on dialogue, mutual understanding and non-interference in the internal Syrian affairs, the statement said. Earlier in the day, Ashton arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit with the aim of meeting with Iraqi leaders to discuss cooperation and coordination between Iraq and the EU.