Syria demands U.S. apology

Syria is demanding an American apology and compensation for a U.S. commando raid near Iraq’s border that killed eight.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, who announced the demand on Wednesdya, also rejected U.S. reports that Sunday’s raid killed a top al-Qaida in Iraq operative called Abu Ghadiyah.

U.S. officials say the man was about to conduct an attack in Iraq.
Mekdad told The Associated Press all the victims were Syrian civilians and that
Damascus does not know the whereabouts of the wanted Iraqi.

He added that the search for Abu Ghadiyah by Syrian and foreign intelligence agencies should continue.

Syria’s government has ordered an American community school and cultural center closed in retaliation.