Iraq minister says neighbours back extremists

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has criticised nearby countries for backing Muslim extremists and supporters of the old…

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has criticised nearby countries for backing Muslim extremists and supporters of the old Baghdad regime who have
launched a rebellion since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Mr Zebari told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper that foreign governments were supporting "terrorists" and promised his government would produce evidence of this in the coming days.

"Since we started to look at the security situation, we have seen how foreign governments have been helping terrorists," he said.

"Why they are doing it we cannot say, but we know where the support is coming from. We have plans to put this before the public within days and it will have a substantial impact."

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Mr Zebari did not name specific countries but The Sunday Telegraph said senior Iraqi officials had indicated that Iran and Syria were among those likely to be implicated.

"Foreign support for terrorists is ongoing, very risky and very dangerous," Mr Zebari said. "But it will backfire on those governments. A stable and peaceful Iraq is a better neighbour for them."