BAGHDAD, Nov 20: Around 100 foreign fighters a month enter Iraq from Syria to join the anti-US resistance, a senior military commander said on Monday. “We still see foreign fighters coming across the Syrian border,” a spokesman for the

US-led forces, Major-General William Caldwell, told reporters as Foreign Minister Walid Muallem became the first Syrian official to visit Iraq since the invasion.

“Somewhat between 70 and 100 a month make it across the border into Iraq and are able to participate in operations here in the country,” he said.

Gen Caldwell said that since the start of the current year, Iraqi troops had killed more than 425 foreign fighters and captured another 670.

“We know they primarily come from Syria when you look at those that are currently detained,” he said.

Gen Caldwell said of those detained 20 per cent are Syrian and another 20 per cent Egyptian.

“It is not that we are saying the government of Syria is assisting but we don't know how much they have tried to preclude it from happening either.”

United States authorities have regularly charged that Syria could and should do more to prevent guerillas smuggling arms and personnel into Iraq.

—AFP