Iraq calls on Saudi, Syria to do more on security

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Iraq urged its neighbours on Wednesday to stem the inflow of fighters crossing their borders to join insurgents in Iraq or risk a spillover of militancy in the region.

"Terrorism is going to spread to your territories because you are not helping enough," head of Iraqi Military Intelligence Hussein Kamal told an international security meeting on Iraq in the Syrian capital.

"We want more help from our neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia and Syria, who have suffered from crimes linked to insecurity in Iraq," he said, in reference to Islamist militant attacks in the two neighbouring Arab states.

"The border agreements with our neighbours must be activated. Wanted people must be handed in," Kamal said.

One source familiar with the conference said the Iraqi delegation had brought evidence of alleged movement of weapons and insurgents across the border with Syria.

Syria is hosting the two-day meeting that opened on Wednesday at a government complex on the outskirts of Damascus. The United States, Britain, Iran and Jordan are taking part. Saudi Arabia, whose relations with Syria have been tense over a political crisis in Lebanon, has chosen to stay away.

The United States has accused Syria of not doing enough to stop a flow of fighters crossing into Iraq to fight alongside al Qeda and allowing Iraqi rebel networks to operate from Syria.

Saudis have also joined Arabs fighting in the ranks of al Qaeda in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Estimates on the numbers have varied from hundreds to thousands.