Syria closes U.S. school because of raid

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Syria, reacting to the deadly U.S. raid into its territory, announced it would close a U.S. school and cultural center in Damascus.

Reports from Syria said the country's leaders told U.N. leaders and the U.N. Security Council of its response to the raid, in which Syria said the eight people killed in the raid were civilians, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. Earlier reports indicated seven people died.

In Baghdad, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh condemned the U.S. raid that originated in Iraq.

U.S. military officials said Monday that U.S. forces on Sunday flew about 4 miles into Syria, targeting the leader -- identified as an al-Qaida in Iraq principal -- of a network that channeled fighters, arms and money into Iraq. The officials said U.S. forces killed several armed men and wounded or killed the target.

Also in its letter, Syria urged Iraq to investigate the raid, saying the attack came as Syria was stepping up its efforts to stem the flow of fighters into Iraq.

Syria also announced it would postpone indefinitely talks with Iraq on regional cooperation, scheduled for Nov. 12 in Baghdad.