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Iraq president begins Iran trip Iraqi president seeks Iran's help
(about 3 hours later)
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has arrived in Iran for key talks on his country's security situation. Visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has called on Iran to provide "comprehensive help" to improve his country's security situation.
Mr Talabani was expected to travel at the weekend but was delayed by a curfew imposed after bomb attacks in Baghdad on Thursday killed more than 200. Mr Talabani arrived following a two-day delay, caused by a curfew that was imposed after bomb attacks in Baghdad killed more than 200 people.
The president plans to meet his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told him Iran would do what it could.
The trip is part of a renewed flurry of diplomacy that sees US President George W Bush visiting Jordan this week.The trip is part of a renewed flurry of diplomacy that sees US President George W Bush visiting Jordan this week.
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the approach to Iraq has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Separately, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Monday that Iraq was close to civil war.
He says Republican losses in US mid-term elections, increasing violence in Iraq and a new regional diplomatic assertiveness by Iran have changed the situation. Iranian concern
Mr Talabani's visit to Iran will be keenly watched in the West, he says. Mr Talabani was given a red-carpet welcome by Mr Ahmadinejad at Iran's Presidential Palace.
Diplomatic muscle The Iraqi president said: "We need Iran's comprehensive help to fight terrorism, restore security and stabilise."
Increased contact with Iran and Syria is one of the options being considered by the US Iraq Study Group, which is in its final stages of deliberation on recommending what new policies Washington could adopt on Iraq.
The trip was delayed by the Sadr City bomb attacks on ThursdayThe trip was delayed by the Sadr City bomb attacks on Thursday
Speaking last week before the delay to his trip, Mr Talabani said the agenda would be "strengthening relations and Iraq's security". Mr Ahmadinejad said: "Any help the government and nation of Iran can give to strengthen security in Iraq will be given. We have no limitation for cooperation in any field."
Some analysts say he may use the visit to urge Iran not to use Iraq as a tool in its conflict with the US while Iran may try to exert its diplomatic muscle ahead of any future negotiations with the US on Iraq, The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says some have suggested Iran wants to keep the US bogged down in Iraq to prevent it attacking Iran in the future over its nuclear programme.
The US has accused Iran of funding Shia militants in Baghdad and southern Iraq. But she says it seems Iran is increasingly concerned about the uncontrollable level of violence in Iraq.
Mr Bush will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Jordan this week while Vice-President Dick Cheney has just been in Saudi Arabia. Mr Ahmadinejad has previously said Iran is willing to help but only if the US changes its approach and abandons what it calls its "bullying" of Iran.
Our correspondent says the Bush administration clearly remains dubious about engaging Iran but adds that US influence on events in Iraq may be becoming more limited just when the need for a clearer exit strategy is becoming politically more acute. Contacts
Mr Talabani is also meeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit, which is being keenly watched in the West.
Increased contact with Iran and Syria is one of the options being considered by the US Iraq Study Group, which is in its final stages of deliberation on recommending what new policies Washington could adopt on Iraq.
There have been suggestions the US administration is looking for a new approach following heavy mid-term election losses.
Mr Bush is to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Jordan this week while Vice-President Dick Cheney has just been in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Annan, meanwhile, has said Iraq is close to civil war.
"I think given the developments on the ground, unless something is done drastically and urgently to arrest the deteriorating situation, we could be there. In fact we are almost there," he said.