Iraq hopes to eradicate IS within year: Fuad Massoum

by **Ponee** Tue Mar 31, 2015 3:59 pm

Iraq hopes to eradicate IS within year: Fuad Massoum

Iraqi President Fuad Massoum said on Saturday that his country had hopes to eradicate the militant group of IS within a year.

Addressing the 26th Arab summit in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Massoum added that his country's army succeeded in recapturing a number of areas previously occupied by the militant group in Iraq.

According to Anadolu news agency he added that the Iraqi army was also on the way of recapturing other areas in the days to come.

"We look forward to eradicating Daesh within a year," Massoum said, using the Arabic acronym of the radical group.

He accused IS of carrying out genocides against Iraq's Yazidis and Christians.

Massoum called on Arab states to support Iraqi refugees.

"Our people waits for all forms of support from our Arab brothers," the Iraqi President said.

He also called for holding an international conference for supporting Iraqi refugees.

Massoum said his country's strong ties with neighboring countries Saudi Arabia and Iran were a prerequisite for eradicating terrorism.

The IS has overrun vast territories in both Iraq and Syria. The radical militant group has also reportedly killed hundreds of Iraq's Christians and Yazidis.

Ongoing violence in Iraq has displaced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis inside their country.