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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| US 'open to Iran talks on Iraq' | US 'open to Iran talks on Iraq' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The White House has indicated it will consider talking to Iran and Syria about the future of Iraq. | The White House has indicated it will consider talking to Iran and Syria about the future of Iraq. |
| Ex-US Secretary of State James Baker, who heads the Iraq Study Group, is leading a delegation to the White House for talks with President George W Bush. | Ex-US Secretary of State James Baker, who heads the Iraq Study Group, is leading a delegation to the White House for talks with President George W Bush. |
| The cross-party panel, due to give its recommendations by the end of the year, is believed to favour renewing contacts with Tehran and Damascus. | The cross-party panel, due to give its recommendations by the end of the year, is believed to favour renewing contacts with Tehran and Damascus. |
| The White House chief-of-staff has said Mr Bush will look at all the options. | The White House chief-of-staff has said Mr Bush will look at all the options. |
| Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Josh Bolten said "a fresh approach" was clearly needed on Iraq. | Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Josh Bolten said "a fresh approach" was clearly needed on Iraq. |
| We in Syria believe that engagement with the United States on Iraq can help a lot, because we believe that we need to stabilise the situation in Iraq and support the political process there Imad MoustaphaSyrian ambassador to the US | We in Syria believe that engagement with the United States on Iraq can help a lot, because we believe that we need to stabilise the situation in Iraq and support the political process there Imad MoustaphaSyrian ambassador to the US |
| Asked if he favoured the idea of including Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria, in discussions, Mr Bolten said all options would be considered. | Asked if he favoured the idea of including Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria, in discussions, Mr Bolten said all options would be considered. |
| In a keynote speech in London, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will call for Iran and Syria to be more involved in efforts to secure peace in the Middle East. | In a keynote speech in London, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will call for Iran and Syria to be more involved in efforts to secure peace in the Middle East. |
| Phased withdrawal | Phased withdrawal |
| Iraq was seen as a key factor in the Republican defeat in mid-term polls and US defence chief Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. | |
| Senior Democrats have called for a phased pullout of US troops. | Senior Democrats have called for a phased pullout of US troops. |
| Josh Bolten (r) said a fresh approach was needed in Iraq"We have to tell Iraqis that the open-ended commitment is over," said Carl Levin, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. | |
| He said he wanted phased troop withdrawals beginning in a few months and he said some Republican senators were preparing to back him. | He said he wanted phased troop withdrawals beginning in a few months and he said some Republican senators were preparing to back him. |
| Mr Blair will speak to the Iraq Study Group via video link on Tuesday. | Mr Blair will speak to the Iraq Study Group via video link on Tuesday. |
| He will be making his speech in London's financial centre on Monday evening. | He will be making his speech in London's financial centre on Monday evening. |
| An aide said Mr Blair would "make clear to Syria and Iran the basis on which they can help the peaceful development of the Middle East rather than hinder it; and the consequences of not doing so". | An aide said Mr Blair would "make clear to Syria and Iran the basis on which they can help the peaceful development of the Middle East rather than hinder it; and the consequences of not doing so". |
| Seeking stability | Seeking stability |
| Both Syria and Iran have said they are ready to consider any US offer for them to play a role in stabilising the region. | |
| "If they [the United States] really want to hold talks with Iran, they should officially propose it and then Iran will review it," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, told Reuters news agency. | |
| The Syrian ambassador to the US, Imad Moustapha, told the BBC his government would be glad to play a role in helping to stabilise Iraq - as long as the Iraqis wanted it. | |
| But he said the US first had to accept its policy in Iraq had failed. | But he said the US first had to accept its policy in Iraq had failed. |
| The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan US task force asked by Congress to examine the effectiveness of policy in Iraq, reportedly thinks that "staying the course" is an untenable long-term strategy. | The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan US task force asked by Congress to examine the effectiveness of policy in Iraq, reportedly thinks that "staying the course" is an untenable long-term strategy. |
| It is said to have been looking at two options, both of which would amount to a reversal of the Bush administration's stance. | It is said to have been looking at two options, both of which would amount to a reversal of the Bush administration's stance. |
| One is the phased withdrawal of US troops, and the other is to increase contact with Syria and Iran to help stop the fighting. | One is the phased withdrawal of US troops, and the other is to increase contact with Syria and Iran to help stop the fighting. |
| More than 2,800 US troops have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. | More than 2,800 US troops have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. |