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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Iraq hosts key security meeting | Iraq hosts key security meeting |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A key international conference is set to open in Baghdad aimed at winning regional support for efforts to stabilise the situation in Iraq. | A key international conference is set to open in Baghdad aimed at winning regional support for efforts to stabilise the situation in Iraq. |
| This will be the first time for years that US officials attend formal talks with envoys from Iran and Syria. | This will be the first time for years that US officials attend formal talks with envoys from Iran and Syria. |
| Both states are accused by Washington of backing the Iraqi insurgency. The US had until recently ruled out including them in discussions on the issue. | Both states are accused by Washington of backing the Iraqi insurgency. The US had until recently ruled out including them in discussions on the issue. |
| A key focus will be reducing violence stemming from Iraq's Sunni-Shia divide. | A key focus will be reducing violence stemming from Iraq's Sunni-Shia divide. |
| Observers say the ambassador-level gathering is seen as an attempt to break the ice, and the beginning of a process. It is hoped the next step will be a meeting of foreign ministers in April. | Observers say the ambassador-level gathering is seen as an attempt to break the ice, and the beginning of a process. It is hoped the next step will be a meeting of foreign ministers in April. |
| Those attending the one-day conference in Baghdad include envoys from other members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as other states bordering Iraq. | |
| Bush's message | Bush's message |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that for Iraq this is an important opportunity to bring together neighbours and other powers who have often seemed to be using the country as a proxy battlefield for their own struggles. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that for Iraq this is an important opportunity to bring together neighbours and other powers who have often seemed to be using the country as a proxy battlefield for their own struggles. |
| The conference is proof that the situation in Baghdad is getting back to normal Nouri Maliki, Iraqi PM | The conference is proof that the situation in Baghdad is getting back to normal Nouri Maliki, Iraqi PM |
| In terms of the Sunni-Shia divide, Iran is a key supporter of the Shia majority in Iraq while Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states would like to see a better deal for Iraq's Sunni minority. | In terms of the Sunni-Shia divide, Iran is a key supporter of the Shia majority in Iraq while Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states would like to see a better deal for Iraq's Sunni minority. |
| But our correspondent says Iran and Saudi Arabia have been working closely together recently to help defuse similar conflicts in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority and there are hopes that this spirit will give impetus to the conference. | But our correspondent says Iran and Saudi Arabia have been working closely together recently to help defuse similar conflicts in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority and there are hopes that this spirit will give impetus to the conference. |
| Ahead of the talks, US President George W Bush - on a Latin American tour - was spelling out a tough line, saying the US message to Syria and Iran was unchanged. | Ahead of the talks, US President George W Bush - on a Latin American tour - was spelling out a tough line, saying the US message to Syria and Iran was unchanged. |
| He said: "We expect you to help this young democracy and we will defend ourselves and the people in Iraq from weapons being shipped." | He said: "We expect you to help this young democracy and we will defend ourselves and the people in Iraq from weapons being shipped." |
| A key Shia leader in Iraq called on all those attending to work to "enhance the achievements made in Iraq in the last four years". | A key Shia leader in Iraq called on all those attending to work to "enhance the achievements made in Iraq in the last four years". |
| Abdul Azziz al-Hakim told thousands of Shia pilgrims in the city of Karbala: "We call on the regional and international countries to support Iraq because we believe it will reflect positively on international and regional peace." | Abdul Azziz al-Hakim told thousands of Shia pilgrims in the city of Karbala: "We call on the regional and international countries to support Iraq because we believe it will reflect positively on international and regional peace." |
| PM Maliki walked Baghdad's streets on Friday ahead of the summit | PM Maliki walked Baghdad's streets on Friday ahead of the summit |
| The conference comes amid a new security drive by US and Iraqi forces. | The conference comes amid a new security drive by US and Iraqi forces. |
| Mr Bush has ordered in more than 20,000 additional troops to try to quell the unrest. | Mr Bush has ordered in more than 20,000 additional troops to try to quell the unrest. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki hosts the talks and on Friday chatted with people on the streets of Baghdad to try to show the new security drive was working. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki hosts the talks and on Friday chatted with people on the streets of Baghdad to try to show the new security drive was working. |
| He also visited a power station and said: "The conference is proof that the situation in Baghdad is getting back to normal and that the political process is strong and stable." | He also visited a power station and said: "The conference is proof that the situation in Baghdad is getting back to normal and that the political process is strong and stable." |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says much of the interest in the talks will centre on whether US and Iranian officials try to seek some common ground. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says much of the interest in the talks will centre on whether US and Iranian officials try to seek some common ground. |
| US officials have made it clear that if approached directly by Iranian, or Syrian, representatives to talk about any Iraq-related matter they will not turn and walk away. | US officials have made it clear that if approached directly by Iranian, or Syrian, representatives to talk about any Iraq-related matter they will not turn and walk away. |
| But our correspondent says expectations from such meetings should be limited. | But our correspondent says expectations from such meetings should be limited. |
| The US has had no diplomatic relations with Iran for decades, and its ties with Damascus have been severely strained. | The US has had no diplomatic relations with Iran for decades, and its ties with Damascus have been severely strained. |