CAIRO, July 22 (AFP) - Egypt and Syria voiced concern Thursday about reports of an Israeli presence in northern Iraq, which they warned could threaten regional stability.
But visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi denied Israelis were on his territory and pledged that the country "will not be used against Arab and Muslim brothers."
Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara of Syria, which is still technically at war with Israel, said there was "anxiety" among Iraq's neighbours about the Jewish state's reported activities and warned it was trying to fragment Iraq.
"I do not want to exaggerate, there is no real danger at the moment, but we have to pay attention and stay awake," he said at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit.
The US media has reported increased activity by Israelis in Iraqi Kurdistan, suggesting Israeli agents were using the territory to monitor Iran's nuclear facilities.
One report said Israelis, including members of the intelligence agency Mossad, entered northern Iraq as businessmen to train Kurdish commando units, although the Israelis have dismissed the claims.
Shara said that foreign ministers from states bordering Iraq who met in Cairo on Wednesday had agreed to monitor the situation.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the meeting there was no Israeli presence in the country, whether as "individuals or corporations or companies," Gheit said.
"Iraqi territory will not be use against the Arab and Muslim brothers," Allawi told reporters after meeting Eygptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Shara also rejected Israeli threats against Syria after deadly violence on the border between Lebanon and Israel this week, while Gheit said he had called on visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to press Israel not to escalate the situation in south Lebanon.