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.
RIA Novosti
