After months of American complaints, Syria has finally bolstered its border patrol - probably helped by the 14,000 troops who recently returned from Lebanon.

But now that Syrian soldiers are guarding the dangerous frontier - 1400 foreign fighters have been caught here by Syria in recent months - Syria is asking America, why aren't you doing your bit. They say the Iraqi side is unprotected.

But the patrols are not just to prevent people entering Iraq. In recent weeks Syrian troops have battled with rebel fighters in Damascus, Homs, and near the Lebanese border - many of them are suspected to have come from lawless Iraq.

Syrian border posts are positioned every 500 metres along the 700 kilometre line. But the border consists of a Syrian built sand barrier - Syria wants to make that concrete.