Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has instructed security forces and Red Crescent workers in Iraq to allow in Syrian refugees.

Monday's statement to provide support for the refugees fleeing increasing violence in Syria comes as a reversal of an earlier decision to only allow in Iraqi citizens fleeing violence in Syria.

State media reports that 

The prime minister directed Iraqi forces and police and the Iraqi Red Crescent to receive Syrian refugees and help them and provide them with services.