Iran has a direct involvement in arming, training, equipping and funding Iraqi extremist groups, a US general claimed Wednesday.

"Iraq is a sovereign government, and Iran should stop its actions to destabilize Iraq, " Brigadier General Michael Barbero, deputy director of regional operations of the US Joint Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

On Syria's role in Iraq, he said, "we know that there has been crossings of the Syrian border of insurgents. I'm not sure if I can go much further than that."

Washington has long been accusing Iran and Syria of "destabilizing Iraq."

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)