Iraq prods neighbors on border security

Iraqi Minister Hoshyar Zebari urged Iraq's neighbors yesterday to prevent "terrorists and killers" from crossing into the country and warned that the violence could spill over Iraq's borders.

Zebari's came during the opening of a daylong conference that brought to Baghdad officials from all of Iraq's neighbors and other Middle East countries, as well as representatives from the UN and the G8.

An conference in March saw the first direct US-Iranian talks since the war began and focused on border problems, Iraqi refugees and energy issues.

"Despite our emphasis on national reconciliation at home, we also need to reconcile with our neighbors, with the international community at large," Zebari said. "And this is critical period for us that we need your support and your commitment especially from our immediate neighbors."

Iraq's to its neighbors came on the eve of the start of legislative hearings in Washington of US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and US General David Petraeus, who are to deliver key reports on progress in Iraq. US and Iraqi officials have said security has improved, but political progress has lagged.

Al-Maliki that assessment, saying the "Iraqi national unity government has achieved great victories in different fields as it works seriously to improve the economic situation and achieved major results despite the major economic destruction that we inherited from the former regime."