US President George W. Bush on Wednesday urged Iran and Syria not to meddle in internal affairs of Iraq.

"We will continue to make it clear, to both Syria and Iran that... meddling in the internal affairs of Iraq is not in their interest," Bush said as he met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Bush made the remarks after Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan earlier in the day accused neighboring Iran and Syria of supporting terrorists in Iraq.

Shaalan said Iraqi authorities obtained information about Iran's role in Iraqi's insurgency after last month's arrest of the leader of the Jaish Mohammed (Mohammed's Army) terrorist group during US-led operations in Fallujah.

"When we arrested the commander of Jaish Mohammed we discovered that key to terrorism is in Iran, which is the number one enemy for Iraq," Shaalan told reporters in Baghdad.

Shaalan accused Iranian and Syrian intelligence agents, plus operatives of deposed leader Saddam Hussein's security forces, of "cooperating with the al-Zarqawi group to run criminal operations in Iraq," adding that Syria and Iran was providing funds and training.

The Bush administration and the interim Iraqi government frequently blame the governments of Iran and Syria for supporting the unrest in Iraq.

Both Iran and Syria have rejected American and Iraqi claims that they are supporting insurgents in Iraq.