Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh has said that the next two days will see the beginning of the "deciding battle" against Al-Qaeda members in Mossul.
He denied news of a possible closure of the border with Syria during the expected activity, saying that there was security cooperation between the two countries.
He added that in order to expel Al-Qaeda members from Mossul, there was a need for cooperation of the tribes and city residents themselves, as happened in Baghdad and in other regions in Iraq.
He said that the government was determined "to destroy the terror groups in Mossul and to purge it of Al-Qaeda."
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, February 1, 2008
