Clinton to attend G8 meeting alongside Iran: US

AFP: The United States confirmed Friday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend a meeting of Group of Eight foreign ministers in Italy at the end of June alongside Iran's diplomatic mission.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States confirmed Friday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend a meeting of Group of Eight foreign ministers in Italy at the end of June alongside Iran's diplomatic mission.

"Yes, the secretary will attend," said State Department spokesman PJ Crowley.

Italy officially invited Iran on Thursday to the meeting which will deal with the crises in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Italy, which is holding the G8's rotating presidency, is hosting the meeting to be held June 25-27 in the northeastern city of Trieste.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in May that Clinton was in favor of inviting Iran to the meeting.

The G8 groups the world's leading industrialized nations, the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and Italy. Some 20 other countries have been invited to the meeting, including China, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.