Iraq sends more police to Syrian border

BAGHDAD // Iraq sent police reinforcements today to the Syrian border after last weekend's US raid against an alleged al Qa'eda hideout in Syria raised tension between the two countries, officials said. Police Col Jubair Rashid Naief said a police quick reaction force for Anbar province moved to the border town of Qaim, about 320 kilometres north-west of Baghdad, to prevent al Qa'eda from moving into the area from Syria.

Al Arabiya television quoted witnesses as saying scores of armored vehicles were seen moving from the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi to Qaim, which had been a major al Qa'eda stronghold until Anbar's Sunni tribes turned against al Qa'eda. The police moves follow last Sunday's bold US raid on the Syrian border town of Abu Kamal, during which US officials say they killed a top al Qa'eda militant who operated a network of smuggling fighters into Iraq.

The US has not officially acknowledged the attack. Syria says eight civilians were killed and has branded the raid as aggression. Syria has demanded that Washington apologise for the strike and has threatened to cut off co-operation on Iraqi border security in response to the attack. Earlier this week, Damascus also sent additional troops to the border following the raid, but has since withdrawn them. The Iraqi government has rejected the attack, but has urged Syria to crack down on organisations on its territory that are trying to hurt Iraq.

*AP