DAMASCUS (AFP) - Iraq's neighbours should crack down on networks which are facilitating terrorism in the war-torn country, the US on Sunday told a high-level meeting in Damascus on security in Iraq. "Terrorist facilitation networks operating throughout the region remain a threat to the stability of Iraq," Maura Connelly, Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Damascus, told the Border Security Working Group. "Militant groups that were driven out of Iraq continue to receive weapons, training, funding and guidance from abroad," Connelly said. "We encourage neighbours to refrain from tolerating these groups as they pose a threat not only to Iraq but also to their own country," she said. The US says a raid by helicopter-borne US soldiers on a Syrian village on October 26 targeted a "facilitator" of foreign fighters entering Iraq. Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul Majid told the meeting that Syria's sovereignty was "gravely violated" by that attack, which Damascus says killed eight civilians in a village near the border with Iraq. He called on participants to ensure that "Iraq will not be the point of departure for acts of aggression against its neighbours in any circumstances whatsoever." "Syria has always taken the necessary steps to supervise its border with Iraq... stability in Iraq is reflected in all countries of the region," Abdul Majid said. "Sovereignty and independence for Iraq... will only be achieved through the departure of foreign forces from its territory," he said. Connelly said the US encourages participants "to bolster cooperation by initiating joint training exercises to improve information sharing and coordination and increase overall effectiveness." "As an observer at this working group, the US is particularly interested to hear from the participants how me might better assist in Iraq's efforts to enhance border security," the Charge d'Dffaires said. The United States, Britain and France were among countries attending the gathering, alongside officials from Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, China and Japan. The United Nations, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League also sent delegations. Washington regularly accuses both Syria and Iraq's eastern neighbour Iran of fanning the violence and not doing enough to prevent the infiltration of insurgents across their borders. Iraq's parliament is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on a security pact with Washington that would allow US troops to remain in the country until the end of 2001.