Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki expressed concerns that the persisting Syrian crisis would extend to neighboring countries. In an interview with the Arabic-language Sky News, Maliki, pressed for ending the two-year stand off, underlining the importance of holding the Geneva 2 conference with the unconditional participation of all parties. Maliki denied western reports alleging that Iran uses the Iraqi airspace to send military assistance to the Syrian regime. The current civil war in Syria claimed the lives of more than 115,000 civilians, he said. He added that the Iraqi government decided not to side with any party in Syria.