Petraeus irked over Syrian border efforts

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Damascus can do more to prevent foreign fighters from crossing the border with Iraq, military leaders said.

Baghdad blamed Baath Party loyalists for a series of deadly attacks that rocked the Iraqi capital in August and earlier this month. In both instances, coordinated bombings struck government buildings in Baghdad, killing hundreds in each case.

The Iraqi branch of al-Qaida claimed responsibility for both attacks, though Baghdad pointed to confessions it said revealed a Baathist link.

Gen. David Petraeus, the top official at U.S. Central Command, said he called on Damascus to control its border, adding a drop in infiltrations was due to al-Qaida restrictions and not efforts by the Syrian government.

The commander stressed, meanwhile, that several elements of the regime of Saddam Hussein were hiding out in Syria, including Izzat al-Douri, al-Arabiya reports.

Douri became the leader of the Baath Party following the 2006 execution of Saddam. U.S. officials believe he led the Iraqi insurgency from a secret location. There have been various uncorroborated reports that he was either captured or died from leukemia.

He has a $10 million bounty on his head.

Petraeus said he encouraged Damascus to limit the activities of Iraqi Baathists who are calling for regime change as Iraq prepares for March parliamentary elections.