Iraqi PM calls for quick progress in Brahimi's talks over Syria

BAGHDAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki called Monday for a quick progress in the talks of the UN- Arab League (AL) joint special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi to resolve the Syrian crisis, a statement from Maliki's office said.

"The Prime Minister warned of continuing fight in Syria, and called to move quickly in order to maintain the lives of the brotherly Syrian people, their country's future and unity, as well as to maintain the security and stability of the region," the statement said.

"Iraq fully supports the efforts of the joint UN-Arab League envoy to Syria in order to reach a political solution for the worsening crisis in Syria," the statement quoted Maliki as saying.

The statement also said that Brahimi presented his initial vision to resolve the Syrian crisis, "which states a comprehensive cease-fire and launch a political process that could achieve an acceptable solution to the Syrian people."

"The two sides agreed on a number of steps that can form a road map to find a way out for the crisis in Syria as soon as possible, " it added.

Earlier in the day, Brahimi arrived in Baghdad coming from Tehran as part of his second regional tour, which also included Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in a bid to mediate a cease-fire between the Syrian government and armed rebels in the 19-month conflict in the Middle East country.

Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister, was appointed by the UN and the AL to replace former UN chief Kofi Annan, who stepped down in August after his failure to bring peace into Syria, in a continuous international effort to seek a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Enditem