Turkey said Tuesday, November 29, it will consider using Iraq as an alternative transit route for trade with the Middle East, cutting out Syria entirely as Damascus faces broad economic sanctions over its deadly crackdown on an 8-month-old uprising, AP reported.
Syria has been a main transit route for Middle East trade, which Damascus hopes will help cushion the effects of tough new sanctions from the Arab League and Turkey. On Monday, Syria warned that Damascus could use its strategic location to inflict economic damage of its own. But Turkey's transport minister said there are alternatives to Syria.
"We are planning to conduct transit transport through Iraq, by opening new (border) gates, if the situation with Syria worsens," Binali Yildirim told the state-run Anadolu Agency.
He said Turkey would increase the number of border gates with Iraq in such an event.
Syria has come under mounting international pressure over its crackdown. Sunday's decision by the Arab League to impose sanctions was just the latest blow, but it was an unprecedented move by the 22-member League against a fellow Arab state.
