Iraq's fugitive Vice-President Tarek Al Hashemi has left Qatar.The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported, "He left on Wednesday morning at the end of an official visit of several days and he was seen off at the airport by Shaikh Hamad Bin Nasser Al Thani, the state minister."
Shaikh Hamad had welcomed Al Hashemi to the Qatari capital on Sunday. On Tuesday, Qatar declined Iraq's demand to hand over the fugitive Iraqi official.
Khalid Al Attiyah, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said, "Diplomatic norms and the post of Al Hashemi prevent Qatar from doing such a thing."
Al Hashemi, wanted by the Iraq for his alleged role in acts of terrorism, had initially left the Iraqi capital for Kurdistan. However, the Kurdish zone wouldn't hand him over. His trip to Qatar sparked bitter domestic and international disputes.
Al Hashemi's office said that he left Kurdistan for Doha in response to an invitation he had previously received.
The office said that Al Hashemi would spend some days in Qatar before visiting unnamed other countries and returning to Kurdistan. Qatari Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani received Al Hashemi at his court. The QNA reported that the two reviewed bilateral relations and the developments in the region during their meeting.