Iraq deployed additional police forces to its border with Syria amid tensions between the two neighbors, an Interior Ministry official said Saturday, Xinhua reported.
"The Iraqi Interior Ministry pushed more of its national police forces to deploy at strategic areas and to cut routes possibly used by insurgents who infiltrate from Syria into the country," the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
"Some of the forces are already deployed and others are still moving," the source said.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after Iraq alleged that Damascus is sheltering suspects linked to a massive bombing targeting government ministries in Baghdad on Aug. 19, which caused casualties of nearly 1,300 people.
However, Damascus said it wanted evidence from Baghdad.
On Aug. 25, Iraq recalled its ambassador in Damascus, and Syria responded within hours by recalling its ambassador in Baghdad. E