Iraq sees progress in regional efforts on security

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Regional efforts to stabilize Iraq are starting to bear fruit, but neighboring countries need to do more to stop fighters and weapons from entering, Iraqi officials told a security conference on Sunday.

The arrival of additional U.S. troops in mid-2007 has contributed to a decline in violence in Iraq, but clashes between Shi'ite militia and security forces over the past month could undermine these gains.

"There has been progress, infiltration has gone down and agitation for terrorism from outside has lessened," senior Iraqi Foreign Ministry official Labid Abbawi said at the conference, hosted in Syria.

The two-day meeting is attended by officials from the six states bordering Iraq as well as representatives from the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.

"We need more advanced steps. There is yet no mechanism to exchange information with our neighbors about terrorist groups and their financing, arms smuggling and organized crime."

In a swipe at Iran, Abbawi said government battles with fighters loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr "has proved that regional interference in Iraqi internal affairs persists".

Mohammad Fairouzi, head of the Iranian delegation, said in a closed session that Iran was playing a "constructive role" in Iraq and that efforts by Tehran contributed to a recent decline in the fighting.

Fighting in a slum of Baghdad eased on Sunday after a week of intense clashes. Hospitals said they had received no dead or wounded overnight.

"We have no problem in cooperating with any one to stabilize Iraq," Fairouzi said.

Delegates said the closed discussions focused on developing means to help Iraq secure its border from infiltration.

Turkey, however, raised the issue of Kurdish PKK separatists operating from Iraq, and at least one Arab delegation criticized the Iraqi government for what it described as slow progress on national reconciliation; deemed a cornerstone for stability.

Ties between the Shi'ite dominated government in Baghdad and Arab countries have been fragile, with Iraq criticizing an Arab summit in Damascus last month for not condemning insurgent attacks and not supporting the elected government in Baghdad in the final declaration.

The United States has also criticized Arab countries, for refraining from sending ambassadors to Baghdad.

A similar meeting in Damascus six months ago agreed to establish liaison mechanisms and field arrangements to strengthen Iraq's borders.

Prodded by the United States, Iraq's neighbors agreed last year to hold regular security conferences. A meeting at the foreign ministers level will be held in Kuwait this week. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem is expected to represent Syria at the meeting.

(Editing by Matthew Jones)