Iraq and its six neighbours called at the end of a Kuwait summit today for a central postwar role for the United Nations in Iraq, including supervision of elections and of transfer of power to Iraqis.
In a final statement, they also expressed fears of a spillover of violence besetting Iraq. It was vital, they said, to eliminate "all terrorist and other armed groups from Iraqi territory that constitute a danger for the neighbouring states".
This was a clear reference to anti-US fighters operating in Iraq, including the al-Qaeda militant network headed by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, which Washington blames for the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Scores of gunmen firing mortars and grenades stormed Iraqi security posts in Falluja on Saturday, killing 27 people including 22 police in the latest audacious strike on forces key to the transfer of power in Iraq.
Iraq, represented by the US-backed governing council at the two-day meeting, had demanded its neighbours take "decisive measures" to impose tight security to stop cross-border infiltration by foreign guerrillas fighting US-led forces.
But the statement only referred to the need to support "the effort made by Iraq towards achieving security and stability".
Iraq and its neighbours Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait, also re-affirmed "the importance of enhancing the role of the UN
so that it can assume its central responsibilities throughout the transitional process in Iraq".
The statement said these responsibilities include "preparing the ground for the withdrawal of occupying powers as soon as possible, and providing advice and technical expertise for formulating the constitution, holding elections, and expediting the transfer of power".