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Iraq hosts key security meeting Iraq hosts key security meeting
(40 minutes later)
Iraq's prime minister has urged states attending an international conference in Baghdad to adopt a firm stance against terrorism in his country.Iraq's prime minister has urged states attending an international conference in Baghdad to adopt a firm stance against terrorism in his country.
The meeting aims to take steps to halt the violence afflicting Iraq which has killed tens of thousands of people since the US-led invasion in 2003. He said "sources of support" for the violence in Iraq had to be halted, but did not accuse any particular state.
It is the first time in years that US officials are attending formal talks involving envoys from Iran and Syria.It is the first time in years that US officials are attending formal talks involving envoys from Iran and Syria.
The US accuses both states of backing Iraq's insurgency. The US accuses both states of backing Iraq's insurgency which has left tens of thousands dead since 2003.
Until recently, it had ruled out involving them in discussions about the issue. Until recently, it had ruled out involving them in discussions about the insurgency.
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 include envoys from other members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as other states bordering Iraq.Those attending the one-day conference include envoys from other members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as other states bordering Iraq.
As the meeting got under way mortar blasts and sporadic gunfire echoed around Baghdad, AFP news agency reported.As the meeting got under way mortar blasts and sporadic gunfire echoed around Baghdad, AFP news agency reported.
'Frontline of confrontation''Frontline of confrontation'
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 the meeting 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 PM Maliki walked Baghdad's streets on Friday ahead of the summit
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.
"We wish to have our neighbours' support for confronting terrorism," Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said in his opening address, quoted by AFP."We wish to have our neighbours' support for confronting terrorism," Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said in his opening address, quoted by AFP.
"It needs to be met by an international stand and more importantly, a stand by which our brethren and neighbours support Iraq in this battle, which involves all states of the region.""It needs to be met by an international stand and more importantly, a stand by which our brethren and neighbours support Iraq in this battle, which involves all states of the region."
Terrorism, he said, "is an international epidemic, the price of which is being paid by the people of Iraq, and our country is on the frontline of confrontation. "Terrorism, he said, "is an international epidemic, the price of which is being paid by the people of Iraq, and our country is on the frontline of confrontation. "
He added that apart from threatening Iraq, the battle could spill over to all countries of the region, AP said.
We expect you to help this young democracy and we will defend ourselves and the people in Iraq from weapons being shipped. George W Bush
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.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 - spelt 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 - spelt 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." "We expect you to help this young democracy and we will defend ourselves and the people in Iraq from weapons being shipped," he said.
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". Limit on expectations
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
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.
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 almost three decades, and its ties with Damascus have been severely strained.The US has had no diplomatic relations with Iran for almost three decades, and its ties with Damascus have been severely strained.