Neighbours declare support for Syria

Iraq's neighbours stepped up tensions between the US and the Arab world yesterday by calling for the withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq and declaring their support for Syria as they met for a summit to discuss the region's postwar future.

Foreign ministers from the six states bordering Iraq - Turkey, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait - were joined by representatives from Egypt and Bahrain for a meeting that demanded an immediate end to the military occupation of Iraq.

In his opening statement, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal,said: "The most important principles are stressing that Iraq is owned solely by the Iraqi people and stressing the importance of Iraq and its independence."

He went on to criticise America's accusations that Syria was harbouring senior Iraqi officials and had provided Saddam Hussein with weapons.

"Our region has suffered more than its share of war and turmoil for decades, that's why we utterly reject any accusations and threats against Syria, because it will lead to a vicious circle of war and turmoil," Prince Saud said.

The Arab countries are discussing how to "help the Iraqi people decide their own future and choose their own government without foreign intervention," Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Maher, said. "This is Iraq, not the US, so it is normal that the government of Iraq should be Iraqi."

Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, said he was considering a trip to Damascus on his Middle East tour. And US officials said Syria might be working to expel Iraqi fugitives.