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Turkey grants Iraqi VP permanent residency

ANKARA, July 31 (KUNA) -- Turkey Monday granted Iraqi vice-president Tareq Al-Hashemi, who has been staying in Istanbul, a permanent residency permit to reassert rejection to hand over Al-Hashemi to Iraq on terrorism-related charges.
The permanent residency was given to Al-Hashemi after his 90-day visa, which was given to him last April, expired, Khabar Turk channel reported.
Al-Hashemi and his aid are accused of being responsible for bombings and assassination attempts against Iraqi officials. Their trials are being held in absentia in Iraq.
The Interpol, acting upon the Iraqi government request, issued an international arrest warrant against Al-Hashemi. Turkey considered the warrant not binding.
Al-Hashemi is refusing to stand before the court in Baghdad because he alleged the hearing will be biased. But he accepts to attend the hearing if the trial is held in Iraq's Kurdistan province.
Khabar Turk said the Turkish interior minister decided to grant Al-Hashemi a permanent residency to prevent legal problems as well as to avoid giving him a political asylum.
Al-Hashemi's residency in Turkey is fueling tension between Ankara and Baghdad.
BA