Diplomatic relations between Syria and Iraq _ severed 24 years ago _ were restored Tuesday, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. «The latest talks between the Syrian and Iraqi sides have been crowned by declaring a new era with the participation of the Syrian brothers in working on the security and stability with Iraq and restoring full diplomatic relations,» al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem arrived in Iraq on Sunday in the first such visit by a senior Syrian official since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. He was expected to return to Damascus later Tuesday. After the signing ceremony, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters that the names of ambassadors will be announced soon. «Iraq's flag will fly in the sky of Damascus and Syria's flag will fly in the sky of Baghdad» Zebari said. On arrival, Moallem had called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, saying that would reduce violence. Zebari said the presence of the 140,000-strong American force was «approved by the Iraqi government.»
