Syria denies role in presence of foreign fighters in Iraq

Washington: Disputing an assertion by the top US general in Iraq, Syria's ambassador to Washington has denied that his government is allowing foreign fighters to cross the Syrian border into Iraq.

Ambassador Imad Moustapha said Wednesday his government has been cooperating with the United States on the foreign fighter problem, which has persisted for years, and that Syria wants to help the United States with its 2010 troop withdrawal.

Moustapha said Syria wants "to help the Obama administration have a very successful, smooth withdrawal from Iraq so that lives can be saved and so that Iraq can continue to evolve and prosper, because a secure, stable, prosperous Iraq is a matter of paramount strategic importance for Syria."

He made his remarks in a presentation at American University's School of International Service.