Turkish troops begin withdrawal from Iraq

“The Vice President encouraged the Turkish government to continue its dialogue with Baghdad on additional measures to improve relations between Turkey and Iraq”, it said. However, Iraqi authorities have accused Ankara of a military intervention and demanded that the forces leave the country.

The advance last week by Iraqi government forces into a section of the partly Daesh-controlled city of Ramadi was, however, a significant gain for Abadi who despite this gain, remains too indecisive to rule and kept in office by political forces who want a weak prime minister.

Baghdad gave Turkey an ultimatum on Sunday to withdraw its troops within 48 hours, otherwise, it might take the case to the UN Security Council.

But the move was widely seen as a Turkish attempt to establish a greater foothold in the simmering conflicts across its border, which have already pulled in other regional and global powers.

“The Baghdad government must work through multiple channels to end tensions with Turkey”, Allawi said in a statement.

Baghdad conveyed outrage over the Turkish incursion into Iraq without consultation and blamed Ankara for violating its sovereignty.

“We have to exercise self-control and safeguard the rights of Turkish citizens working in Iraq”, Allawi said.

The minister said if Iraq allows any country to build military bases inside its territories, then the door would be opened for more countries to do so.

He added: “We refuse the existence of foreign forces inside Iraq whether from Turkey or Iran, except the military trainers and advisers”.

“If it is unable to do so, it should request worldwide assistance”, Allawi asserted. “They [the Iraqi government] are aware of all of this”.

Davutoglu defended it as an “act of solidarity” and said: “When the threats (to the trainers) increased, we sent troops to protect the camp”.