Decision to close MKO camp 'irreversible'

TEHRAN,Dec.17(MNA)--In an interview with AFP on Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that Baghdad’s decision to close Camp of New Iraq by year-end is ‘irreversible.’ “The decision we made is irreversible, especially because this organization refused the visit of a UN representative to Camp Ashraf,” Maliki said. “They’ve rejected the UN plan, which means this is a criminal gang and we cannot permit a criminal gang to remain here,” he added. The Iraqi government has reiterated that the camp, which is a threat to its relations with neighboring Iran, will be closed by December 31. But last week the United Nations appealed for an extension to the end-of-year deadline to allow more time for a solution to be negotiated with the camp's residents who are refusing to move unless they are given UN protection.