Baghdad recalls envoy to Ankara over Zakho attack

BAGHDAD, July 20 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi government on Wednesday decided to recall the Charge d'Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara in protest at the Turkish artillery bombing of Zakho resort, in Dohuk province, in the northern region of Kurdistan.
The Iraqi cabinet held an emergency meeting under Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi to mull response to the deadly attack.
The cabinet members strongly denounced "the brutal attack which left over 30 casualties among innocent civilians," according to press release from the government.
They decided to recall the Iraqi Charge d'Affaires from Ankara for consultations and halt the preparations for sending a new ambassador to Turkiye.
They asked the Foreign Ministry to summon Turkish ambassador in Baghdad to hand him a protest note, the statement pointed out.
The Cabinet also asked the Foreign Ministry to prepare a detailed report on the repeated Turkish aggressions on Iraq's sovereignty and present it to the UN Security Council.
The Cabinet called on Turkey to offer an official apology for the attack and pull out its troops from the Iraqi territories, the statement added.
The Turkish artillery bombing of Zakho resort earlier today has reportedly claimed eight lives and wounded 23 others. (end) ahh.gb