Rumsfeld tells Syria and Iran to stay out of war

11.30am UPDATE

WASHINGTON - United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today warned Syria and Iran -- both labelled by Washington as state sponsors of terrorism -- not to meddle in the war raging in neighbouring Iraq.

Rumsfeld told a Pentagon briefing the United States had information that shipments of "military supplies and material and equipment" have been crossing from Syria into Iraq, apparently to aid the forces of President Saddam Hussein.

He said this included night-vision goggles that could undercut US military advantage in night fighting.

"These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces. We consider such trafficking as hostile acts, and will hold the Syrian government accountable for such shipments," Rumsfeld said, without providing details of the alleged shipments.

Asked whether the United States was threatening military action against Syria, Rumsfeld did not answer directly, saying only that such activity "vastly complicates our situation".

Syria dismissed the charges, calling them an attempt to divert attention from reports from Baghdad of heavy civilian casualties. Iraq said more than 50 people were killed on Friday, after some of the heaviest US strikes of the war.

"What Donald Rumsfeld said about the transportation of equipment from Syria to Iraq is an attempt to cover up what his forces have been committing against civilians in Iraq," said a statement from the foreign ministry.

Rumsfeld also had sharp words for Iran, charging the presence inside Iraq of "hundreds" of armed Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim forces opposed to Saddam and armed by Tehran and who also have warned against any foreign dominance of Iraq.

Rumsfeld said US forces would consider these members of the Badr Brigade as "combatants," although he said they have "not yet" been hostile toward the US-led invasion force.

There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials.

President George W Bush has called Iran, Iraq and North Korea an "axis of evil", remarks that raised fears in Tehran that the Islamic Republic was next on the US target list, after Baghdad.

US mistrust of Syria is also high, largely for its implacable opposition to Israel. Syria has also been an outspoken critic of the US-led invasion of Iraq, opposing efforts at the United Nations for a second Security Council resolution specifically authorising war.

The Badr Brigade is the armed wing of the Tehran-based Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, comprised of Iraqi exiles who share the Shi'ite branch of Islam with Iran. It is headed by Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir Hakim.

"The entrance into Iraq by military forces, intelligence personnel or proxies not under the direct operational control of (US commander) General (Tommy) Franks will be taken as a potential threat to coalition forces," Rumsfeld said.

The statements indicate concern within the Pentagon about the actions of Iraq's neighbours during the US-led invasion to topple Saddam and rid the country of alleged weapons of mass destruction.

"It seems to me that General Franks and the coalition countries are busy. They've got a complicated task. We would prefer it not be made more difficult by any of the neighbours," Rumsfeld said, adding that "we don't want neighbouring countries or anyone else for that matter to be in there assisting the Iraqi forces."

Members of the Badr Brigade, like the majority of Iraq's population, are Shi'ite Muslims, while the country is ruled by a Sunni Muslim minority.

SCIRI leader Hakim said in Tehran on Tuesday that US troops would face armed resistance if they stayed in Iraq once Saddam is overthrown. He said SCIRI had tens of thousands of troops stationed inside and outside Iraq, ready to resist any foreign occupation.

Rumsfeld said in addition to the hundreds detected inside Iraq, "there are some additional ones that are close to the border." He added that "we're suggesting they not interfere."


Herald Feature: Iraq