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Iran and Syria to seek Iraq role Iran and Syria to seek Iraq role
(about 3 hours later)
Iran's president has invited his Iraqi counterpart to a three-way summit with the Syrian leader to discuss ways of ending the raging violence in Iraq. Iraq's President Jalal Talabani has accepted an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to discuss ways of ending the raging violence in Iraq.
Sources close to Jalal Talabani say he has accepted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call but that a date has not been set. Mr Talabani is to meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday. There have been unconfirmed reports that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad may attend.
Other Iraqi officials have indicated the leaders will meet on Saturday. The US has given a guarded welcome to the prospect of the talks in Tehran.
But the state department said previous Iranian commitments to help reduce violence in Iraq had not been acted on.
Analysts say Iran's diplomatic push could be designed to upstage US efforts to force it and Syria to do more to help stabilise the situation in Iraq.Analysts say Iran's diplomatic push could be designed to upstage US efforts to force it and Syria to do more to help stabilise the situation in Iraq.
The announcement comes during a landmark visit to Iraq by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim - the highest-ranking by a Syrian official since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The announcement of talks comes during a landmark visit to Iraq by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim - the highest-ranking Syrian official to visit Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
PartnersPartners
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki told Mr Muallim he was not prepared to let Iraq get caught up in Syria's differences with the United States. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki told Mr Muallim he was not prepared to let Iraq get caught up in Syria's differences with the US.
"[Syria] should settle these differences, but not at our cost," Mr Maliki said at a joint news conference."[Syria] should settle these differences, but not at our cost," Mr Maliki said at a joint news conference.
Mr Muallim said Syria wanted to be a partner with Iraq to increase security and political co-operation.Mr Muallim said Syria wanted to be a partner with Iraq to increase security and political co-operation.
The US regularly accuses Syria of not doing enough to prevent anti-US insurgents from crossing its border with Iraq to smuggle arms and fighters.The US regularly accuses Syria of not doing enough to prevent anti-US insurgents from crossing its border with Iraq to smuggle arms and fighters.
On Sunday, Mr Muallim called for the unity of Iraq to be preserved, and for a timetable for foreign troops to leave.On Sunday, Mr Muallim called for the unity of Iraq to be preserved, and for a timetable for foreign troops to leave.
Officials attackedOfficials attacked
Earlier in the day, gunmen attacked the convoy of a deputy health minister, a day after an ambush in which another deputy health minister was kidnapped. Earlier in the day, gunmen attacked the convoy of a Deputy Health Minister, Hakim Zamili, a day after an ambush in which another deputy health minister was kidnapped.
"We as health ministry officials have become a target," said Hakim Zamili. Two of Mr Zamili's bodyguards were killed in the attack in Baghdad's central al-Fadil district. "We as health ministry officials have become a target," said Mr Zamili. Two of his bodyguards were killed in the attack, in Baghdad's central al-Fadil district.
Reports said more than 100 people had been killed in Iraq the last 24 hours, piling pressure on the government to solve the spiral of sectarian violence.Reports said more than 100 people had been killed in Iraq the last 24 hours, piling pressure on the government to solve the spiral of sectarian violence.
On Sunday, Ammar al-Saffar, who holds the same rank as Mr Zamili, was kidnapped on Sunday from his home in Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiya.On Sunday, Ammar al-Saffar, who holds the same rank as Mr Zamili, was kidnapped on Sunday from his home in Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiya.
The health ministry is headed by a group loyal to the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia is accused of involvement in sectarian attacks by Iraq's Sunni Muslim community.The health ministry is headed by a group loyal to the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia is accused of involvement in sectarian attacks by Iraq's Sunni Muslim community.
Meanwhile, the American military says two members of its forces have been killed - one in Anbar province, in western Iraq, and one in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad.Meanwhile, the American military says two members of its forces have been killed - one in Anbar province, in western Iraq, and one in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad.