Iraqi president will visit Syria to talk security

BAGHDAD, Jan 10 (Reuters) Iraqi President Jalal Talabani today said he would travel to Syria shortly to discuss security and urge Damascus to stop the flow of insurgents over the border into Iraq.

Washington has frequently accused Syria or meddling in Iraq and giving safe haven to Saddam Hussein's former Baathist allies and others who provide financial support to Sunni Arab insurgents in Iraq -- a charge Syria denies.

Talabani said at a joint news conference with US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in the president's northern home city of Sulaimaniya that before returning to Baghdad he planned to visit Syria to strengthen relations with Iraq's western neighbour.

''We will ask our brothers in Syria to fight terrorism and prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Iraq,'' he said.

Talabani did not give a specific date for his visit. Asked by a reporter why he was not in Baghdad, Talabani said he planned first to visit Syria and then to return to Baghdad.

An official in his office said the visit would be ''soon'' but could give no precise date.

US President George W Bush is preparing to announce a new direction in Iraq policy later today but has so far rejected pressure from some of his allies and from Democrats to engage with Syria and Iran to help stabilise the region.

Reuters KD GC1833