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US and Iran hold fresh Iraq talks US and Iran hold fresh Iraq talks
(about 3 hours later)
Senior officials from the US and Iran are holding fresh talks on the security situation in Iraq, only their second bilateral meeting in 27 years. US and Iranian envoys have been holding direct talks on Iraq's security crisis, their second bilateral meeting in almost three decades.
The US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, are meeting in Baghdad.The US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, are meeting in Baghdad.
The discussions are a follow-up to the ground-breaking talks held on 28 May. The talks, described as heated, started after a plea from Iraq's prime minister to support stability in his country.
The US blames Iran for supporting some of those who are attacking US and UK troops in Iraq, while Iran blames the US troop presence for Iraq's troubles. Washington blames Tehran for fomenting violence in Iraq while the Iranians are demanding the withdrawal of US troops.
The insurgency and related sectarian violence in Iraq are causing thousands of deaths every month. Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki appealed for help to counter extremism, warning it reached beyond the country's borders.
Separate talks "We are hoping that you support stability in Iraq, an Iraq that doesn't interfere in the affairs of others nor wants anyone to meddle in its own affairs," he said in a statement released by his office.
Security focus
The talks began with a heated exchange between the Iranian and US ambassadors, the Associated Press quotes an anonymous Iraqi official as saying.The talks began with a heated exchange between the Iranian and US ambassadors, the Associated Press quotes an anonymous Iraqi official as saying.
Mr Crocker charged the Iranians with providing training and weapons to the Shia militias behind violence in Baghdad and beyond, the AP reports. These declarations aim to deceive public opinion which is troubled by the US' warlike policy Mohammed Ali HosseiniIranian spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3362443.stm">Timeline: US-Iran ties
Mr Crocker accused the Iranians of providing training and weapons to the Shia militias behind violence in Baghdad and beyond, the news agency reports.
Mr Kazemi-Qomi reportedly brushed aside the allegations, saying that the US had no proof of its claims.Mr Kazemi-Qomi reportedly brushed aside the allegations, saying that the US had no proof of its claims.
On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani held separate talks with the two ambassadors to urge them to work together to improve his country's security. From Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini said the US would be better off finding ways to get out of the Iraq crisis.
However, ahead of the talks, the US and Iran continued to blame each other for the situation. "These declarations aim to deceive public opinion which is troubled by the US's warlike policy," he said, according to French news agency AFP.
We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq Sean McCormackUS state department spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3362443.stm">Timeline: US-Iran ties On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani held separate talks with the two ambassadors, and urged them to work together to improve his country's security.
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tehran had not taken any steps to bring about a stable Iraq since the talks in May. But US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tehran had not taken any steps to bring about a stable Iraq since initial talks in May.
Mr McCormack said US intelligence showed Iran was continuing to stoke sectarian tensions and was still "providing assistance" to militias and death squads.Mr McCormack said US intelligence showed Iran was continuing to stoke sectarian tensions and was still "providing assistance" to militias and death squads.
More than 200 US soldiers have been killed by armour piercing bombs, which the US says have been manufactured in Iran or made using Iranian-imported expertise.
"We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq," he said.
"We'll see if, as a result of these engagements, they will change their behaviour."
The US has also said it believes Iran may have been implicated in the capture of five Britons who were taken hostage in Baghdad two months ago.
DifferencesDifferences
The Iranians, meanwhile, have called for the release of five of their citizens who were detained by US forces in Iraq in January. The US has also said it believes Iran may have been implicated in the capture of five Britons, who were taken hostage in Baghdad two months ago.
The Iranians, meanwhile, have called for the release of five of their citizens detained by US forces in Iraq in January.
The US has said they are members of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), but Tehran says they are diplomats.The US has said they are members of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), but Tehran says they are diplomats.
The BBC's Nicholas Witchell, in Baghdad, says that despite all the differences between the US and Iran, neither country wants the turmoil in Iraq to continue unchecked.The BBC's Nicholas Witchell, in Baghdad, says that despite all the differences between the US and Iran, neither country wants the turmoil in Iraq to continue unchecked.
Analysts say the atmosphere could also be more promising because Iran is trying to prevent a new round of sanctions threatened over its controversial nuclear programme. Analysts say the atmosphere could also be more promising because Iran is trying to prevent a new round of sanctions, threatened over its controversial nuclear programme.
The US broke off relations with Iran in 1980 when Islamic revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran and held many diplomats hostage.The US broke off relations with Iran in 1980 when Islamic revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran and held many diplomats hostage.