RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Baghdad and Riyadh have agreed to monitor sectarian fatawa (verdicts) from Saudi clerics which could inflame violence, Iraq's national security chief was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Iraq has long complained that fellow Arab countries are not doing enough to help end sectarian violence there -- a complaint backed by Washington.

Citing agreements signed in meetings in Saudi Arabia last week with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Mowaffak ar-Rubaie told Okaz newspaper: "We emphasized monitoring fatawa (religious edicts) that support this element (militants) ... and gives religious justification for their acts."

"We learned that a great number of those who have been duped (into fighting) in Iraq are Saudis, who entered from a certain neighboring country," Rubaie said. "When they train in Iraq, they could return to the kingdom ... and threaten civilians."