Iraq Closes Borders With Iran and Syria

Iraq has closed its borders with Iran and Syria as part of a security crackdown to block fighters and weapons from entering the country, US commanders said today.

"The plan to close the borders went into effect last night. Many points were closed, but I can't confirm that all were shut," Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver told Reuters.

The closures were to be maintained for 72 hours to change the procedures and layouts at border positions.

The US has accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross its long borders into Iraq and has said Iran is supplying roadside bombs to Iraqi militants. The two countries have denied the claims.

In Baghdad today, US and Iraqi forces launched a major operation in the southern district of Dora, where Sunni insurgents reportedly hide.

A mortar attack also struck near the heavily fortified Green Zone, injuring two, including an American contractor. The shells landed near an entrance to the complex that houses the US and British embassies, as well as Iraqi government offices.

The events came one day after US troops conducted house-to-house searches in mostly Shia Muslim areas near a militia stronghold in north-east Baghdad as part of the opening phase of a third security crackdown in the capital.

Meanwhile, an adviser to the Iraqi prime minister said the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was in Iran, but denied he had fled due to fear of arrest.

Sami al-Askari said Mr Sadr went to Iran by land a few days ago, but gave no further details of how long he would stay there. A member of Mr Sadr's bloc in parliament said he left three weeks ago.

"I confirm that Moqtada al-Sadr is in Iran on a visit, but I deny that his visit is a flight," said Mr Askari.

The statement came a day after conflicting reports on Mr Sadr's whereabouts. The US has blamed Mr Sadr's Mahdi Army, a militia force, for an upsurge in sectarian violence that has claimed almost 34,000 civilian lives in the last year, according to UN figures.