Iraq has announced it is to close its border with Syria from 21 September.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said this evening that the move was part of continuing security efforts.
Earlier today thousands of Iraqi and US troops carried out an assault on the northern city of Tal Afar, the town believed to be used as a staging post by foreign fighters crossing into Iraq from Syria.
Troops are believed to have killed 141 insurgents, and captured 197.



















