Turkey and Iraq — Cold War Coming

From DW

“Ankara’s refusal to extradite Sunni politician al-Hashemi to Iraq has heightened tensions between Turkey and Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government. The crisis adds to concerns over a Sunni-Shi’ite “Cold War.”

Turkey’s relations with its neighbor Iraq – already tense – were further strained last week when Ankara refused to extradite fugitive Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi.

Al-Hashemi, a Sunni, fled his country early last month after the Shi’ite-led Iraqi government accused him of supporting terrorists and running death squads. Now he faces prosecution in Baghdad at a trial that has been delayed several times, but is due to begin on May 15. ”  read all