LONDON: The top US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus said last night he had no doubt that Iran was giving "lethal" support to Iraqi militias but that he had not sought to stop it by launching military operations inside Iran.

He told he hoped Iran would eventually play a constructive role

across the border.

Petraeus said there was clear evidence that Iran was training militias and giving them weapons, including rockets and improvised explosive devices that have killed many allied troops.

He added that US-led coalition forces were focused inside Iraq on blocking the alleged flow of weapons and militiamen heading from training camps in Iran.

Meanwhile, the top US military commander for the Middle East is steering the topic away from Iraq and pressing Arab allies to form a more united front against Iran.

Admiral William Fallon is delivering personal appeals to Arab leaders to counter Iran's ambitions to expand its regional influence and move ahead with its nuclear programme. Adm Fallon is on a 10-day tour of the Gulf that began on Saturday in Bahrain. He has carefully avoided publicly making any direct threats against Iran.