Foreign weapons sent to Syrian rebels worry Iraq

Iraq's foreign minister says outside nations should not supply weapons to any of Syria's rebels for fear they could fall into the hands of extremist or terror groups.

Iraq has long urged other countries against meddling in the two-and-a-half-year civil war to its west, even as Baghdad acknowledges that the continued fighting has escalated violence in Iraq.

But Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari yesterday that nearly 10,000 foreign fighters have joined Syria's rebel opposition.

He said foreign military aid could help jihadist groups that are fighting among Syrian rebels against President Bashar Assad's regime.

The US began sending small arms to the Syrian opposition within the last few weeks, and has arranged for anti-tank weapons to be funnelled to vetted rebel fighters through allied nations.