Iraq to close borders with Syria and Iran

The Iraqi commander of the Baghdad security crackdown said today that Iraq planned to close its borders with Syria and Iran for 72 hours as part of the drive to secure the Iraqi capital.

Lt Gen. Abboud Gambar, addressing the nation on behalf of prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, did not say when the borders would be closed, but a government official said this was expected in the next two days.