Iraq, neighbours agree to curb border infiltration

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul (L) leaves the hotel in Kuwait City yesterday at the end of the two-day meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq and its neighbours. Ministers from Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Egypt and Bahrain stressed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the war-torn country and called for Iraqis to determine their political future and a swift withdrawal of occupation forces.. PHOTO: AFP

"We have asked neighbouring countries to help us in controlling the borders more effectively to prevent infiltrators and terrorist groups from sneaking into Iraq to carry out terrorist and criminal attacks," he said.

"They gave a positive response. The issue will be followed up by forming bilateral security committees between Iraq on the one hand with Syria, Iran, Jordan, Turkey and maybe Saudi Arabia," added Zebari, speaking after a two-day meeting here of Iraq and its neighbours.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

"The duty of these committees is to exchange information and control the movement of these alien terrorist and criminal groups which come from across the borders to carry out attacks and settle scores at the expense of the Iraqi people.

"We believe that these countries can do more to help us on this issue," said Zebari.

A final statement released after the forum condemned the "terrorist acts" in Iraq, targetting Iraqi civilians, policemen, security forces, humanitarian and religious institutions as well as international organisations and diplomatic missions.

But the statement made no reference to Iraqi demands to tighten border security to curb infiltrators, and Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara denied that any were crossing the border from Syria into Iraq.

"There are no infiltrators from Syria, at all. Ask the Iraqi foreign minister," Shara told reporters here.

"The responsibility for security inside Iraq is that of the occupation (authority) and not the responsibility of the neighbouring countries," he added.

The US-led coalition in Iraq and the country's officials have fingered foreign fighters infiltrating Iraq, notably from Syria, as being behind deadly suicide attacks in the country.

Two Lebanese were reportedly among four assailants killed when a group attacked police and paramilitary bases Saturday in Fallujah, west of Baghdad.

The twin assaults sparked blistering battles that left 27 dead and dozens wounded, and followed back-to-back bombings that killed more than 100 people earlier in the week.