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| New push for Iraq reconciliation | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Representatives from Iraq's different communities are holding talks to try to curb the bloodshed that has brought the country to the brink of civil war. | |
| Iraqi leaders are meeting "for the common objective of stabilising Iraq and promoting the rule of law", Prime Minister Nouri Maliki reportedly said. | |
| Iraq's Shia and Sunni Arab and Kurdish politicians are attending the talks. | Iraq's Shia and Sunni Arab and Kurdish politicians are attending the talks. |
| The White House said Mr Maliki vowed to improve security in a conversation by phone with President Bush beforehand. | |
| Some exiled Sunni Arabs who were leading figures in ousted leader Saddam's Hussein's Baath party have also been invited to attend. | Some exiled Sunni Arabs who were leading figures in ousted leader Saddam's Hussein's Baath party have also been invited to attend. |
| And some representatives of Iraq's majority Shia community, which was persecuted under Saddam Hussein's rule, have threatened to boycott the talks if Baathists attend. | And some representatives of Iraq's majority Shia community, which was persecuted under Saddam Hussein's rule, have threatened to boycott the talks if Baathists attend. |
| Opening the conference, Mr Maliki said the meeting was open to those who did not have blood on their hands. | |
| The talks have been delayed several times and were launched with little fanfare. | |
| According to the BBC's Jim Muir, the need for the talks is burningly obvious, with neighbourhoods in Baghdad being divided along sectarian lines in a conflict that claims some 100 Iraqi lives every day. | |
| The discussion is likely to focus on the presence in Iraq of troops from the US and other countries, as well as the impact of Kurdish and Shia militia groups and Sunni insurgents. | The discussion is likely to focus on the presence in Iraq of troops from the US and other countries, as well as the impact of Kurdish and Shia militia groups and Sunni insurgents. |
| Some 200 people are expected to attend the talks in Baghdad, an Iraqi government spokesman said. | Some 200 people are expected to attend the talks in Baghdad, an Iraqi government spokesman said. |
| Worsening violence | Worsening violence |
| According to a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, President Bush and Mr Maliki spoke for the 30 minutes by secure video link on the eve of the conference. | According to a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, President Bush and Mr Maliki spoke for the 30 minutes by secure video link on the eve of the conference. |
| Nearly 3,000 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since 2003 | Nearly 3,000 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since 2003 |
| Mr Maliki "talked about providing greater security, in particular in Baghdad by going after all sources of violence, including insurgents and militias," the spokesman said. | Mr Maliki "talked about providing greater security, in particular in Baghdad by going after all sources of violence, including insurgents and militias," the spokesman said. |
| He said Mr Bush repeated his support for Mr Maliki and said he had been encouraged by recent meetings with Iraqi leaders. | He said Mr Bush repeated his support for Mr Maliki and said he had been encouraged by recent meetings with Iraqi leaders. |
| Sunni insurgents have been blamed for bomb attacks targeting Shias and US forces. | Sunni insurgents have been blamed for bomb attacks targeting Shias and US forces. |
| Shia militiamen suspected of links to the newly-formed armed forces have been accused of operating death squads. | Shia militiamen suspected of links to the newly-formed armed forces have been accused of operating death squads. |
| Tens of thousands of people have died in worsening violence. | Tens of thousands of people have died in worsening violence. |
| Past conferences held to curb the violence have had little effect. An Iraqi government official quoted by the Reuters news agency expressed doubt that these talks would be any different. | Past conferences held to curb the violence have had little effect. An Iraqi government official quoted by the Reuters news agency expressed doubt that these talks would be any different. |
| "Let them talk. More talking will not harm anyone. But I doubt there would be results," the official said. | "Let them talk. More talking will not harm anyone. But I doubt there would be results," the official said. |
| Troop levels | Troop levels |
| President Bush is considering boosting troop levels in Iraq next year, a US administration official has said. | President Bush is considering boosting troop levels in Iraq next year, a US administration official has said. |
| Up to 25,000 more troops could be deployed to try to help end the violence, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. | Up to 25,000 more troops could be deployed to try to help end the violence, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. |
| The comments come a day after prominent Republican John McCain called for up to 30,000 more troops to be sent to Iraq. | The comments come a day after prominent Republican John McCain called for up to 30,000 more troops to be sent to Iraq. |
| Mr Bush had been due to announce a new strategy on Iraq next week, but has delayed his speech until January. | Mr Bush had been due to announce a new strategy on Iraq next week, but has delayed his speech until January. |
| He is holding a flurry of meetings with top US and Iraqi officials and experts on how to change his policy. | He is holding a flurry of meetings with top US and Iraqi officials and experts on how to change his policy. |