Visiting Iraqi Shiite Muslim leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday criticized Israel and the United States for spreading strife among the Arab countries.

"Both Iraq and Syria are under U.S. pressure. We have good relations, but our common enemies, Israel, the United States and Britain, are trying to spread strife among us," he told reporters after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara.

"The people will not fall for this. I will help Syria in every way. We are witnessing Islamic solidarity," he added.

Sadr, swiftly rising to prominence after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003, led two anti-U.S. uprisings.

According to the official SANA news agency, the Syrian leaders discussed with Sadr the latest developments in Iraq, particularly the ongoing consultations for forming a new Iraqi government.

President Assad called for the unity of Iraqis in "serving the safety of its sisterly country and liberating itself from the occupation", SANA said.

Intense negotiations are underway in Iraq among the Shiites, the Kurds and the Sunnis on the formation of a new government following the country's December general elections.

Source: Xinhua