U.S., Iraqi leaders discuss concerns over arms shipments to Syria

• Maliki received a phone call from Biden Friday afternoon.

• A briefing on the call said that Biden and Maliki "addressed issues of regional security.

• U.S. have earlier said there are suspicions that Iran are carrying weapons to Syria via Iraqi airspace.

BAGHDAD, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki discussed with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden concerns over reports that Iran is using Iraq's airspace to deliver arms shipments to Syria, the Iraqi government said Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Iraqi prime minister's office, Maliki received a phone call from Biden Friday afternoon, in which "Maliki expressed discomfort of his government about stirring suspicions by some unofficial American circles over Iraq' s stance towards the Syrian crisis."

Maliki reiterated his country's "firm stance in rejecting any arming shipments or violent activities via the land and airspace of Iraq."

On the other side, a briefing on the call released on the U.S. White House website said that Biden and Maliki "addressed issues of regional security, including the need to prevent any state from taking advantage of Iraq's territory or air space to send weapons to Syria."

U.S. officials and media reports have earlier said there are suspicions that Iranian aircraft are carrying weapons to Syria via Iraqi airspace, but Baghdad refused the allegations, saying that the Iranian flights are carrying humanitarian aid.

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