Iraq seeks Iran's help in battling insurgency

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
TEHRAN, Nov 17 (AFP) - A senior Iraqi official called Thursday for Iran to
use its influence with Damascus to secure Syria's cooperation in sealing off
the Iraqi border to insurgents, the state news agency IRNA reported.

"I asked for Iran to use its good ties with Syria (to stop) the infiltration
of Al-Qaeda elements and Saddam (Hussein) supporters," said national
security adviser Muwaffaq Rubaie after meeting Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki.

"We want friendly relations with Syria and we are not trying to launch a
propaganda campaign against that country. But we ask that they stop the
caravans of death infiltrating Iraq from Syria," he said.

The official also held talks with Iran's Intelligence Minister, Gholam
Hossein Mohseni Ejeie.

"Security cooperation is important because Iran has suffered a lot from
terrorism and has much experience in the fight against terrorism," he said,
adding the two countries had signed an accord against arms and drugs
smuggling.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said after meeting the Iraqi official that
Iran was a strong backer of efforts to restore stability in its neighbour.

"Iran is ready to share its expertise in different sectors with the Iraqi
people and government," he said. "A strong and developed Iraq will be the
best friend of the Islamic republic.

Ahmadinejad, whose country opposed the US-led invasion of March 2003 that
toppled Saddam, said insecurity in Iraq was "a pretext for the occupiers to
remain in the country".

Iran has denied US and British charges of supporting the insurgency in Iraq.
 
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