Blair sees signs Syria will help on Iraq

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today he was seeing signs that Syria is prepared to help improve security in Iraq, but Iran was showing little willingness and may be actively supporting insurgents.

''We are perfectly prepared to deal with Iran and Syria in relation to support and helping the situation in Iraq provided they are prepared to do so, but the issue is are they prepared to do so?,'' Blair said in parliament.

''In respect of Syria, I think there is some sign that the Syrian government is prepared to help. We can't be sure on this, but there are some tentative signs.'' Blair said Iran, on the other hand, may be contributing to the worsening security situation in Iraq by allowing weapons to cross the border.

''It is perfectly obvious to us, and in this sense we support entirely what the Americans were saying last week, that the ordinance -- much of which is used against British soldiers -- has got Iranian origin to it,'' he said.

''No one can be sure of the precise degree to which those at senior levels of the Iranian government are complicit but it's certainly very clear that that's the origin of that weaponry.'' Blair, whose popularity at home has suffered greatly because of his decision to join the United States in invading Iraq in 2003, was speaking after announcing the start of the withdrawal of British troops from the country.

He has said he is willing to engage Iran and Syria in regional efforts to improve security provided that Tehran gives up sensitive nuclear fuel work and both countries stop supporting what the West regards as terrorism.

Reuters PDM RN2016

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