Iranians meddling in Diyala, MP says

BAQUBA, Iraq, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The Iraqi government ordered a temporary halt to military activity in the eastern Diyala province as lawmakers accused Iran of border incursions.

Iraqi defense officials said security forces were put on hold to give militants in the area time to surrender. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the military into Diyala province in July to target militants and al-Qaida fighters in the area.

Muhammad Dayeni with the Sunni Accordance Front told al-Sharqiya television in Iraq, however, that the Iranian Quds Force was interfering in activity in Diyala province, and he accused Iraqi military commanders of collaborating with the elite Iranian unit.

The Diyala incursion follows earlier Iraqi-led operations in the oil-rich province of Basra as well as assaults on the eastern city of Amarah and Sadr City.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials imposed a curfew on Diyala province through Wednesday morning following a suicide attack in the provincial capital, Baquba.