U.S. Warns Iran To Stop Aiding Iraqi Insurgents

A senior U.S. diplomat has accused Iran of supplying Iraqi insurgents with weapons technology used to kill U.S. troops.

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said the United States had been tracking Iranian involvement in Iraqi insurgent attacks for about two years and had found increasing evidence that Iran had given assistance to Shi'ite insurgent groups in southern Iraq.

Burns's comments, in a U.S. radio interview to be aired later today, came amid reports that Iraq had invited neighbors -- including Syria and Iran -- to a meeting in March to discuss the political and security situation there.

AP also reported that Iraq will halt flights to and from Syria as the government prepares for a new crackdown on insurgents in Baghdad and surrounding regions.

Baghdad and Washington accuse Syria, along with Iran, of failing to halt insurgents and weapons crossing their borders into Iraq.

As part of the security operation, the first of three Iraqi brigades is expected to deploy in Baghdad today.

Violence continues, meanwhile. At least 43 people were reported killed across the country on January 31, including a U.S. soldier.

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