Top political leaders in Iraq have reached consensus on evacuating New Iraq camp formerly known as Camp Ashraf by the end of this year. This is what Iraq lawmakers say.
The New Iraq Camp(formerly Ashraf), home to more than 3,000 people affiliated with the Mujahedeen Khalgh Organization (MKO) is described by Iraqi politicians as the main source of terrorism in Diyala and the neighboring provinces.
Iraqi president Jalal Talabani announced that the Iraqi government will expel the MKO members from Iraq by the end of this year.
Observers say, MKO members have tried on many occasion to provoke int’l community into putting pressure on Iraqi government by claiming that the Iraqi forces have attacked or mistreating them. The claims have been denied by Iraqi officials.
The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community and is responsible for numerous acts of terror and violence against Iranian civilians and government officials. The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it enjoyed the support of Iraq’s executed dictator Saddam Hussein and set up their camp near the Iranian border.
Iraqi security forces took control of their camp located about 60km north of Baghdad earlier this year.
Wisam al-Bayati