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Iran to attend key Iraq meeting Iran to attend key Iraq meeting
(about 2 hours later)
Iran has said it will take part in a key regional conference on Iraq's security situation. Iran says it will attend a key meeting on Iraq's security situation.
A delegation headed by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend the meeting later this week in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. A delegation headed by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend the conference later this week in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Iraq's foreign minister said there was a strong possibility of bilateral talks between Iran and the US. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is also due to attend, hinted that she could meet Mr Mottaki.
But she said any "encounter" would be a chance to discuss Iraq's security situation, and not specific US-Iranian relations.
"This is not a (conference) about the United States and Iran," she told ABC's This Week program.
"This is a meeting about Iraq and about what Iraq's neighbours and interested parties can do to help stabilize the situation in Iraq," she said.
On Saturday, a car bomb killed 55 people in Karbala, Iraq, home to two of Shia Islam's holiest shrines.On Saturday, a car bomb killed 55 people in Karbala, Iraq, home to two of Shia Islam's holiest shrines.
Reports say the bomb went off on a busy street as people headed to pray.
The blast is the second major attack in Karbala this month. Sunni militants are suspected of carrying out the attacks.The blast is the second major attack in Karbala this month. Sunni militants are suspected of carrying out the attacks.
Iran has close ties with Shias in Iraq, and has been accused by the United States of arming and training Shia militants for sectarian conflict with Sunnis.Iran has close ties with Shias in Iraq, and has been accused by the United States of arming and training Shia militants for sectarian conflict with Sunnis.
'No strings''No strings'
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said talks between Iran and the US would probably not be at ministerial level but were still an important step. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari welcomed the prospect of talks between Iran and the US.
Security efforts are continuing several areas of IraqSecurity efforts are continuing several areas of Iraq
"I think it's important, it would be a major breakthrough and any reduction in tensions will positively impact the situation in Iraq," he said."I think it's important, it would be a major breakthrough and any reduction in tensions will positively impact the situation in Iraq," he said.
"We don't want Iraq to be a battleground for settling scores on other agendas at our cost. Really, this has been harming us, damaging us a lot.""We don't want Iraq to be a battleground for settling scores on other agendas at our cost. Really, this has been harming us, damaging us a lot."
News that Iran would attend the conference, where US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also due, came as Iran's top security envoy Ali Larijani arrived in Baghdad. News that Iran would attend the conference came as Iran's top security envoy Ali Larijani arrived in Baghdad.
The BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, says that Iran had been reluctant to go to the conference because attendance would mean engaging with the United States, which is still holding five Iranians captive in Baghdad.The BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, says that Iran had been reluctant to go to the conference because attendance would mean engaging with the United States, which is still holding five Iranians captive in Baghdad.
One Iraqi diplomat described this as a critical time for Iran, a possible turning point in its deteriorating relations with the outside world.One Iraqi diplomat described this as a critical time for Iran, a possible turning point in its deteriorating relations with the outside world.
Continuing crackdownContinuing crackdown
The conference would give Iran a chance to show good faith over Iraq, and also offer an opportunity to mend relations with Washington, our correspondent says.The conference would give Iran a chance to show good faith over Iraq, and also offer an opportunity to mend relations with Washington, our correspondent says.
It comes as US-led forces continue a security crackdown in Iraq.It comes as US-led forces continue a security crackdown in Iraq.
Overnight the US carried out what it has called a massive effort to disrupt the networks of al-Qaeda in the country.Overnight the US carried out what it has called a massive effort to disrupt the networks of al-Qaeda in the country.
The US said 72 suspected militants had been detained in raids west and north of Baghdad, in the provinces of Anbar and Salahuddin.The US said 72 suspected militants had been detained in raids west and north of Baghdad, in the provinces of Anbar and Salahuddin.
In one raid, near the town of Karmah, the Americans said troops had uncovered 20 large barrels of nitric acid and other bomb-making materials.In one raid, near the town of Karmah, the Americans said troops had uncovered 20 large barrels of nitric acid and other bomb-making materials.
In Baghdad, the US military fired an artillery barrage on Sunday morning targeting what reports say were insurgent positions in the south of the city.In Baghdad, the US military fired an artillery barrage on Sunday morning targeting what reports say were insurgent positions in the south of the city.
The series of loud blasts was heard throughout Baghdad and lasted for about a quarter of an hour.The series of loud blasts was heard throughout Baghdad and lasted for about a quarter of an hour.