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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraq's Maliki set for Iran talks | Iraq's Maliki set for Iran talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is due to arrive in Iran for talks which are expected to concentrate mainly on security issues. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is due to arrive in Iran for talks which are expected to concentrate mainly on security issues. |
| Mr Maliki's visit comes only days after Iran and the US held a third round of talks in Baghdad aimed at improving security in Iraq. | Mr Maliki's visit comes only days after Iran and the US held a third round of talks in Baghdad aimed at improving security in Iraq. |
| Iran and Iraq fought an eight-year war in the 1980s. | |
| But ties between the mainly Shia Iran and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government have become increasingly close. | But ties between the mainly Shia Iran and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government have become increasingly close. |
| 'Constructive role' | 'Constructive role' |
| Mr Maliki is visiting Iran at a time of increasing domestic and international pressure on his government. | Mr Maliki is visiting Iran at a time of increasing domestic and international pressure on his government. |
| Virtually all the Sunni members of his cabinet have withdrawn, leading to speculation about his political future; and Washington has been increasingly critical of his administration's record. | Virtually all the Sunni members of his cabinet have withdrawn, leading to speculation about his political future; and Washington has been increasingly critical of his administration's record. |
| But from Iran, at least, Mr Maliki can expect strong expressions of support and offers of further help to quell the ongoing violence in Iraq. | But from Iran, at least, Mr Maliki can expect strong expressions of support and offers of further help to quell the ongoing violence in Iraq. |
| Co-operation on security is expected to be top of the agenda. | Co-operation on security is expected to be top of the agenda. |
| Baghdad has expressed hope that the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran about Iraqi security could be held at a higher level, and the Iranian and Iraqi delegations may well discuss the next step in that dialogue. | Baghdad has expressed hope that the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran about Iraqi security could be held at a higher level, and the Iranian and Iraqi delegations may well discuss the next step in that dialogue. |
| Although Iran is strongly opposed to the presence of US forces in Iraq, it is anxious to prevent the country disintegrating. | Although Iran is strongly opposed to the presence of US forces in Iraq, it is anxious to prevent the country disintegrating. |
| It has strong historical ties with Iraqi Shia groups and would like a relatively strong Shia-dominated government to remain in power there. | It has strong historical ties with Iraqi Shia groups and would like a relatively strong Shia-dominated government to remain in power there. |
| US officials have recently accused Iran of stepping up its support for Iraqi militias - allegations Iran has always staunchly denied. | US officials have recently accused Iran of stepping up its support for Iraqi militias - allegations Iran has always staunchly denied. |
| But Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said this week that Iran had always played a constructive role in helping Baghdad to restore security and stability. | But Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said this week that Iran had always played a constructive role in helping Baghdad to restore security and stability. |