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Iran to host Iraq security talks Iran to host Iraq security talks
(about 2 hours later)
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani has accepted an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to discuss ways of tackling the violence in Iraq.Iraq's President Jalal Talabani has accepted an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to discuss ways of tackling the violence in Iraq.
Mr Talabani's office said he would meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Saturday. Some reports say Syria's President Bashar al-Assad may attend.Mr Talabani's office said he would meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Saturday. Some reports say Syria's President Bashar al-Assad may attend.
The US has given a guarded welcome to the prospect of the talks in Tehran. The US has given a guarded response to the prospect of the talks in Tehran.
The Iraqi government has said Syria and Iraq are planning to restore full diplomatic ties, cut in 1982. The Iraqi government has also said Syria and Iraq are planning to restore full diplomatic ties, cut in 1982.
Monday's announcement of restored ties capped off a day of regional diplomatic initiatives involving Iraq. Conciliatory figure
First, Syria's foreign minister promised his country's support in helping Iraq restore security. The US has long accused Iran of providing bomb-making materials to Shia militia in Iraq and Syria of not doing enough to prevent insurgents crossing the border to smuggle arms and fighters.
Quick guide: Violence in Iraq What Iran and Syria wantQuick guide: Violence in Iraq What Iran and Syria want
Walid Muallim is the highest-ranking Syrian official to visit Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. Analysts say the US government has been more amenable to regional diplomacy since heavy losses for President George W Bush in 7 November mid-term elections.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said: "The first step is restoring diplomatic relations before the delegation leaves, God willing." However, Washington gave a cautious response to the news of Mr Talabani's trip to Tehran.
Then, shortly after Mr Muallim and Mr Maliki met in Baghdad, the news came out that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had been invited to Tehran for talks with his Iranian counterpart. State department spokesman Tom Casey said Tehran had already indicated that it wanted to help reduce the violence in Iraq, but had not backed up the words with actions.
"The problem is not what they say," he told reporters. "The problem is what they do."
The BBC's David Loyn in Baghdad says as a Kurd President Talabani is a conciliatory figure in the Sunni/Shia divide and has been to Iran before.
Syria's foreign minister (l) pledged support to restore Iraqi security
Although he will talk about trade, industry and education, our correspondent says, this is not a normal visit and follows signals from the UK and the US about the constructive role Iran and Syria might play.
Shia legislators in Iraq said Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had been invited to the talks, but a spokesman for Mr Talabani dismissed the claims.Shia legislators in Iraq said Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had been invited to the talks, but a spokesman for Mr Talabani dismissed the claims.
"This is a two-way bilateral summit, said Kameran Qaradaghi. "There was no invitation for a three-way summit.""This is a two-way bilateral summit, said Kameran Qaradaghi. "There was no invitation for a three-way summit."
Guarded response
BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says Iran's diplomatic initiative appears to designed to pre-empt US efforts to force it and Syria to do more to help stabilise the situation in Iraq.
He says that if Damascus and Tehran are to agree to help Washington stabilise Iraq, they are likely to demand a price.
Syria's foreign minister (l) pledged support to restore Iraqi security
The Iraqi president's trip to Tehran will follow one by his Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, in September when he won a promise of support for his government in battling insurgents.The Iraqi president's trip to Tehran will follow one by his Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, in September when he won a promise of support for his government in battling insurgents.
Washington gave a guarded response to the news of Mr Talabani's trip. Restoring ties
State department spokesman Tom Casey said Tehran had already indicated that it wanted to help reduce the violence in Iraq, but had not backed up the words with actions. The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim paid a key visit to Iraq - the highest-ranking Syrian official to travel to Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
"The problem is not what they say," he told reporters. "The problem is what they do." He promised his country's support in helping Iraq restore security.
The US has long accused Iran of providing bomb-making materials to Shia militia. Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said: "The first step is restoring diplomatic relations before the delegation leaves, God willing."
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki told Mr Muallim he was not prepared to let Iraq get caught up in Syria's differences with the US. Mr Maliki told Mr Muallim he was not prepared to let Iraq get caught up in Syria's differences with the US.
Syria has called for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops
"[Syria] should settle these differences, but not at our cost," Mr Maliki said at a joint news conference with the Syrian foreign minister."[Syria] should settle these differences, but not at our cost," Mr Maliki said at a joint news conference with the Syrian foreign minister.
Spiralling violence
Mr Muallim said Syria wanted to be a partner with Iraq to increase security and political co-operation.
Syria has called for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troopsOn Sunday, Mr Muallim called for the unity of Iraq to be preserved, and for a timetable for foreign troops to leave.
The US regularly accuses Syria of not doing enough to prevent insurgents from crossing its border with Iraq to smuggle arms and fighters.
On Monday, a US military spokesman in Baghdad said between 70 and 100 foreign fighters were entering Iraq from Syria each month.On Monday, a US military spokesman in Baghdad said between 70 and 100 foreign fighters were entering Iraq from Syria each month.
In the last two days, two deputy health ministers have been attacked by gunmen. One of them was kidnapped. Mr Muallim said Syria wanted to be a partner with Iraq to increase security and political co-operation.
Escalating sectarian violence in recent months has increased pressure on the government to stabilise the country. On Sunday, Mr Muallim called for the unity of Iraq to be preserved, and for a timetable for foreign troops to leave.
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. Escalating sectarian violence in recent months has increased pressure on the Iraqi government to stabilise the country.
In the past two days, two deputy health ministers have been attacked by gunmen. One of them was kidnapped.
Meanwhile, the US 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.