Iraq and neighboring countries have agreed to increase cooperation in fighting terrorism and cross-border crime, Qatar's Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel reported on Thursday.
The interior ministers of Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey discussed regional security issues during a meeting in Bahrain's capital of Manama early on Thursday.
The ministers agreed that liaison officers for each of the countries will meet twice or four times a year to coordinate their security efforts, a statement issued following the meeting said.
"The ministers agreed to improve mechanisms for extraditing terrorists whose participation in terrorist activities in Iraq or in neighboring countries has been proved," the document said.
Participants in Thursday's meeting stated that the delay in forming the new Iraqi government was a major destabilizing factor.
Parliamentary elections took place in the country in March, but the winning parties have yet to agree on a prime minister.
In September, the last U.S. combat troops were pulled out from the country, marking the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. But up to 50,000 troops are still in Iraq for support and counterterrorism training, and they are to leave the country by late 2011.
Iraq's neighbors have also pledged to continue helping the country train its police forces.
CAIRO, September 23 (RIA Novosti)
