Iraq Invites Syria, Iran For Talks
Official Says Talks Will Be First 10 Meetings With Iraq's Neighbors
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Iraqi police look at a destroyed minibus in a predominantly Shiite district of Karrada in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday Feb. 1, 2007. Police said six people were killed and eight were wounded when a planted bomb exploded. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
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A man looks at a destroyed minibus in a predominantly Shiite district of Karrada in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday Feb. 1, 2007. Police said six people were killed and eight were wounded when a bomb planted on the bus exploded. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
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A man reacts as he looks at a destroyed minibus in a predominantly Shiite district of Karrada in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday Feb. 1, 2007. Police said six people were killed and eight were wounded when a bomb planted on the bus exploded. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
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Detained men squat at an Iraqi army base in Baqouba, Iraq, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Wednesday Jan. 31, 2007. US military arrested some dozen man suspected of planning attacks on Shiite pilgrims during the Ashoura festivities and handed them over to the Iraqi authorities. (AP Photo/Talal. M. al-Dean)
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The Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information, said the talks will be the first of 10 such meetings to take place in the Iraqi capital. Iran was the venue for the last meeting in July.
Along with Iran and Syria, Iraq has invited Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to the discussions. The Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference and the United Nations also have been asked to attend, the official said.
The United States and the Iraqi government have accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq and fight coalition and Iraqi forces. The U.S. has accused Iran of giving support to Shiite militias.
Both countries deny the charges.
CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer recently interviewed Syria's vice president (read more here), asking him about the role his country might play — whether or not the U.S. likes it — in stabilizing Iraq.
Vice President Farouk al Shara would not confirm or deny a meeting in Syria, with the approval of his government, of about 200 senior Baathists and militia members from Iraq to discuss laying down arms to earn a chair at the negotiating table.
Thursday, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported Syrian President Bashar Assad had stressed his country's eagerness to promote Iraq's security, stability and territorial unity during a meeting with Sheik Harith al-Dhari, head of the powerful Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq.
In other developments:
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- Some of you are so childish, just because you think some one is a fanatic doesnt mean they are. On most christian terms people like that are closer to God than others. Im not very close to God at all, but I try the best I can in the situation that I have. I am a single mom in the Navy, I serve the country, my family and God. And oddly enough the closer to God I am the easier my life is, if I stray thats when things go wrong. He didnt need a licence to put forth his knowlage of Christ and the bible, its his constitutional right and you cannot take that away from him. And I really dont care what you say about me, I work hard and risk my life every day so that others dont have to live like I do, or have to live and die like those in a war zone.
- Reply to this comment
- I hope you don't get a lot of hate mail.
- Reply to this comment
- Catch you on the flipside, even if IT IS A SIN to discuss things with you. LOL
- Reply to this comment
- Good idea, the quiet will be theraputic.
- Reply to this comment
- I don't know. We all represent an accumlation of our life experiences. I personally thank God that I wasn't introduced to my 'operating system' in a way that would make me intolerant. That rigid neck must get uncomfortable. I was taught that we should be happy and joyus.
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- dallison7-
I have to head out for a while myself. If you like, I'm at exusmcsgt@cox.net. See ya. - Reply to this comment
- Stopping prayer is something I will never do.
Posted by singinrick at 04:40 PM : Feb 01, 2007
And you wonder why so many of us despise you fanatics. Go find a soapbox on a corner, bro. You'l find some others who need fanatacism and who'll listen to you before too much time passes, no doubt. The world is full of gullible people. - Reply to this comment
- I'll head home in a couple of minutes, about a twenty minute drive, then I'm going to pour myself a nice drink, like I used to with Grandpa.
- Reply to this comment
- -You're right, with their wives.
Sometimes you would think, with some who claim to be so holy, it is probably with their mothers. - Reply to this comment
- dallison- Had to step away, but I'm back for a minute.
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Grammy winner Shakira on her music career, philanthropy and being sexy.
