BAGHDAD, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi authorities said on Thursday that they have started to return Syrian soldiers who entered Iraq earlier this month before the overthrow of the former Syrian government.

Iraqi Interior Ministry Spokesman Muqdad Miri said in a brief statement that the Syrian soldiers had been sent back to their home country through the Qaim border crossing in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, after coordination with Syria's interim authorities.

On Dec. 7, more than 1,000 Syrian army personnel entered Iraq through the Qaim border crossing, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

Syria's interim authorities said on Wednesday that the previous government's soldiers and officers fleeing to Iraq were now welcome to return home without fear of reprisal. Enditem

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