Syria's deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that Damascus wants America and Iraq to apologize to Syria for a US commando raid mounted from Iraq that killed eight and pledge not to repeat it again. His comments came as the US Embassy in Syria warned Americans in the country to remain alert and said it could close its doors to the public. Fayssal Mekdad also rejected US reports that Sunday's raid killed a top Al-Qaeda in Iraq operative called Abu Ghadiyah who intelligence suggests was about to conduct an attack in Iraq. Mekdad said in an interview with The Associated Press that all the victims were Syrian civilians. He said Iraq and the US should compensate Syria. Syria's government has also ordered an American community school and cultural center closed and has complained to the United Nations. The Syrian Foreign Ministry summoned the US charge d'affaires in Damascus and officially informed her of the government's decision to have the American school and the US cultural center closed, the official news agency SANA reported. It said the US diplomat was asked to take necessary measures to implement the decision. But hardening Damascus' position, Mekdad said Syria wants an investigation in Iraq and that Iraqi territory should not be used to attack Syria, warning that this would torpedo all the bilateral agreements and other agreements reached with Iraq during the regular meetings of that country's neighbors. “We ask of them (Iraqis) and the Americans to investigate and provide us with the background for such a criminal, terrorist act against an independent state ... (and) make an official apology for this aggression and pledge not to repeat it,” Mekdad said. “What is required of the American government is to confess to this aggression and not be cowardly,” he added. There has been no formal acknowledgment from the United States. US officials, speaking to the media on condition of anonymity, have said the target of the raid was Badran Turki Al-Mazidih, an Iraqi national involved in the Al-Qaeda in Iraq smuggling of fighters. He goes by the name Abu Ghadiyah. Mekdad said the victims of Sunday's raid were Syrian civilians and that Damascus would stand up to their rights. Asked whether Syria would demand compensation, Mekdad replied: “We will not be lenient at all with the right of any Syrian citizen.” Mekdad said that Damascus does not know the whereabouts of the wanted Iraqi and that a search for Abu Ghadiyah should continue. “The allegation that this person was killed is a false claim. Therefore, a search for him by world intelligence agencies, including Syria's, should continue,” he said. The warning on the US Embassy's web site advised Americans to avoid demonstrations and review their personal security and said events could cause it to close to the public. “The American community in Syria should be aware that unforeseen events or circumstances may occur that could cause the US Embassy in Damascus to close to the public for an unspecified period of time,” said the message, which was dated Monday but was not widely available until Wednesday.
