Deadline to withdraw Turkish troops to end Tuesday; all options open

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari on Monday said a deadline granted by Baghdad government to Turkey to withdraw its troops from the country would end Tuesday evening.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Jaafari added that the Iraqi National Security Council met last night and gave Turkey a 48- hour deadline to withdraw its troops from Mosul.

If Turkey refuses to withdraw troops, all options will be on the table to respond, the Iraqi top diplomat warned.

Options include going to the UN Security Council and international organizations, he added.

On December 5, Iraq has called on Turkey to immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq's north, calling their presence a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

Prime Minister Haider al Abadi said no permission had been given for the stationing of "around one armed battalion" of Turkish soldiers in the northern Nineveh area near Mosul.

Also, Iraq's first Deputy Speaker Humam Hamoudi on Sunday called on the government to deal with the Turkish troops according to the Iraqi and international laws that guarantee the right to safeguard national sovereignty in various legitimate means.

Sources: MENA