Iraq shutting borders with Iran, Syria: US military

Baghdad, Feb 15: Iraq has begun closing its borders with Iran and Syria as part of a security crackdown aimed at stopping the flow of foreign fighters and weapons into the country, the US military said today.

''The plan to close the borders went into effect last night. Many points were closed, but I can't confirm that all were shut,'' Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver told Reuters.

Iraq had said it would shut the borders for 72 hours. The US military said yesterday the aim was to allow procedures and the layout of border positions to be revamped.

Washington accuses Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross its long porous borders into Iraq and says Iran is supplying weapons, including roadside bombs, to Iraqi militants to kill US soldiers.

The two countries deny the claims.

Iraq said on Tuesday it would close four border crossings with Iran and two with Syria.

The border crossing with Iran near the southern oil city of Basra was closed this morning, a security source said.

There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi government on the closures, which are part of a security crackdown under way in Baghdad to quell raging sectarian violence in the capital.

Reuters