US general says Iran supporting Iraqi Sunnis as well as Shiites

Iranian intelligence forces are providing support to Sunni insurgents in Iraq, in addition to Shiites, to destabilize the country and tie US forces down, a US general said on Thursday.

The comments from Maj. Gen. Michael Barbero, deputy director for regional operations in the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, mark the latest escalation in US accusations against Iran's Shiite government. "We are seeing some indicators of Iranian support to the Sunni extremist groups in Iraq, which is a development," Barbero said. (Reuters)