Russia Rejects Iraq’s Troop Demand

Zebari disclosed that Iraq needed Russian experts both to provide security in Iraq and to help the oil industry recover. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Yakovenko, however, told a disappointed Zebari that Russia had no plans to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq.

Syria, Iraq to Cooperate on Border Security

Syria and Iraq decided to establish a committee to increase the security along their vast desert border, which Washington claimed opponents of America were using to enter Iraq.

Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Muhammed Naci Otri in Damascus, announced at a press conference that the two countries had reached an agreement to cooperate in securing their 600 kilometer long border. Allawi indicated that a joint commission would be established to oversee this issue. The Iraqi Prime Minister said that this was an important step in making Iraq more secure.