Al-Qaida operatives crossing from Iraq to Syria
Iraqi foreign minister says authorities are worried violence would spill over borders to neighboring countries
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s foreign minister said the government has “solid information and intelligence” about al-Qaida militants infiltrating Syria from Iraq to carry out attacks.
Hoshyar Zebari told reporters Thursday that authorities are worried about a spillover of violence from Syria to the rest of the Mideast.
He said Baghdad has for years warned Damascus about al-Qaida traffic between Iraq and Syria.
Zebari says a recent increase in violence in Iraq also could hurt foreign investment as the country tries to pull out of years of sectarian violence.
He blames a months-long political crisis in Iraq for the surge of deadly attacks over the last month.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press