Iraq says its security crucial to regional stability

DAMASCUS, Aug 8 (Reuters) Iraq warned its neighbours today they might become the next victims of terrorism if they failed to help stop militants and weapons entering the country.

The head of Iraqi Military Intelligence Hussein Kamal called on Arab countries, especially Syria and Saudi Arabia, to take measures, including tightening border controls, to stop the inflow of Jihadists into Iraq.

''Terrorism is going to spread to your territories because you are not helping enough. You need to support the elected government of Iraq and stop propaganda against it,'' Kamal told an international security meeting on Iraq in Damascus.

''Border agreements must be activated. Wanted people must be handed in. We want more help from our neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia and Syria, which have suffered from crimes linked to insecurity in Iraq,'' he said.

Syria is hosting the two-day meeting that opened today at a government complex on the outskirts of the capital. The United States, Britain, Iran, the Arab league and Jordan are taking part.

The United States says Syria is not doing enough to stop a flow of fighters crossing into Iraq to fight alongside al Qaeda and other rebel groups and is allowing Iraqi rebel networks to operate from Syria.

Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed said Syria had stepped up its efforts to secure the 360 km border with Iraq.

The conference is part of a wider push to ease Iraq's security crisis. In Tehran, Iran told Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki it was helping establish security in Iraq.

On Monday, Iranian, US and Iraqi officials held the first meeting of a joint committee aimed at easing the crisis.

In Damascus, one source familiar with the meeting said the Iraqi delegation had brought evidence of alleged movement of weapons and insurgents across the border with Syria.

''The Iraqis have chosen not to be confrontational. It is hard to see how Syria will not be damaged by the instability in Iraq,'' one delegate said.

The Syrian delegation included Mohammad Mansoura, head of the Political Security intelligence branch. The United States was represented by diplomats from its embassies in Damascus and Baghdad.

A 15-member Iranian delegation of intelligence officers and diplomats came from Tehran, which engaged this week in security talks with the United States in Baghdad. Washington also accuses Iran, a close ally of Syria, of stoking violence in Iraq -- accusations dismissed by Tehran.

REUTERS AB RAI2318