Syria not blamed for gunmen crossing

CAIRO, June 27 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Monday Syria was not responsible for the gunmen crossing the border into Iraq to fight U.S.-led forces.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo Allawi said "there are gunmen who are infiltrating the Iraqi-Syrian border, but this does not necessarily mean they are doing so with the support of the Syrian government."

"Many are abusing Syrian hospitality to work against Iraq and we have to cooperate with Syria on the political and security levels in order to control this issue," Allawi added.

He noted discussions are under way with the Syrian government to create a security buffer zone on the Iraqi-Syrian border to curb the crossing of fighters.

The Iraqi government and the United States accuse Damascus of exerting little control on its border to stop crossings by gunmen.

Damascus rejected the accusations, citing the difficulties it faces in controlling the 580-kilometer (363-mile) border with Iraq.