BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi authorities on Thursday called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Syria's Aleppo, warning that escalating violence threatens regional stability.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid expressed "profound concern" over the unrest and urged all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" and return to dialogue, according to a statement from the presidency. He said the crisis could lead to more civilian casualties, especially among women and children, and stressed that all segments of Syrian society are vital to the country's unity.
Separately, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein spoke by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Hussein highlighted attacks on civilian and residential areas and called for joint action to stop the violence and support stability in Syria, the Iraqi foreign ministry said.
He warned that continued unrest in Syria could have "direct repercussions" for Iraq.
The forces loyal to Syria's interim government launched intense shelling on Thursday targeting positions of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo, the state-run SANA news agency reported.
The city is now in its third day of fighting, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee Syria's second-largest city. Civilian casualties have been reported, though the exact numbers remain unclear. The SDF reported eight civilian deaths in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, while government officials said at least seven civilians were killed in areas under their control. ■
