Officials from Iraq's neighbors begin 2-day security meeting in Syria

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Land infiltration by foreign insurgents from across Iraq's volatile borders has decreased, but Baghdad is still concerned over violence along its boundaries, Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abbawi said Sunday. Speaking at the start of a two-day meeting in Syria where Damascus officials and delegates from neighboring states are discussing security issues, Abbawi said there has been "remarkable progress" on stemming the insurgent flow. Meanwhile, Syria's Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majid told the gathering of the Security Committee for Coordination and Cooperation on Iraq that Damascus stepped up measures along its border with Iraq to prevent insurgent infiltration. The United States has chastised Syria for allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq and has accused Iran of supplying Shiite militias with weapons. Both Iran and Syria have denied the charges, and Syria claimed it was impossible to seal its border completely.