Diplomatic efforts to ease tense relations between Syria and Iraq have largely run aground.

The rift started after Iraq accused Damascus of complicity in attacks against Iraq's foreign and finance ministries last month in which about 140 people were killed.

Baghdad has accused Syria of harbouring the masterminds behind the recent attacks in Baghdad.

Syria has rejected the accusations, with Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president , calling them "immoral" and politically motivated.

Many in Iraq and Syria are asking why the Iraqi government only accuses Syria and falls short of accusing other regional powers, such as Iran.

According to Iraqi and US intelligence sources, Iran  is funding, training and arming Shia fighters as well as other groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Jasim Azzawi discusses the issues with guests Saad al-Muttalibi, a political adviser to the Iraqi ministry of national dialogue, and Samir Altaqi, the director of the orient centre for international studies.

This episode of Inside Iraq can be seen from Friday, September 4, 2009 at the following times GMT: Friday: 1730, 2230; Saturday: 0300, 0830; Sunday: 0600, 1230 and Monday: 0130.