AFP: Iraq has invited its neighbours, including Iran, to discuss ways of boosting security in the war-wracked country at a conference in Baghdad in March, a senior official said Wednesday.
BAGHDAD, Jan 31, 2007 (AFP) – Iraq has invited its neighbours, including Iran, to discuss ways of boosting security in the war-wracked country at a conference in Baghdad in March, a senior official said Wednesday.
A foreign ministry official said invitations had been sent to neighbouring Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey as well as Egypt, Bahrain, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Iraq’s sectarian conflict is threatening to spill over into the region, with Iran accused of supporting the Shiite militias, while Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering aiding the Sunni Arabs if foreign troops leave.
Iran and its top regional ally Syria, both accused by the United States of fomenting the violence, jointly called in January for such a meeting on Iraq.
