AP: Al-Maliki Asks for Aid in Terror Fight (Language is familiar)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031000181.html

Al-Maliki Asks for Aid in Terror Fight

By SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 10, 2007; 10:40 AM

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's prime minister appealed Saturday for international help to sever networks aiding extremists and warned envoys from neighbors and world powers that Iraq's growing sectarian bloodshed could spill across the Middle East.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, also urged nations bordering Iraq _ which include Syria and Iran _ to expand assistance to the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, saying "the future of Iraq and the Middle East is the defining issue of our time."


"Iraq has become a front-line battlefield," al-Maliki told delegates at a groundbreaking conference that brought together Islamic nations including Iran and Western representatives led by the United States.

"(Iraq) needs support in this battle that not only threatens Iraq but will spill over to all countries in the region," he added _ shortly before mortar shells landed near the conference site and a car bomb exploded in a Shiite stronghold across the city.

This guy will end up on the French Riviera drinking champagne.

BAGHDAD, March 10 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iranian delegates to an Iraqi peace conference in Baghdad on Saturday discussed their relations in Iraq, but nowhere else, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said.

"It was a lively exchange, not only with them (the Iranians) but the Syrians also," Zebari said at a news conference reporting on the one-day meeting of regional and world powers aimed at promoting peace in Iraq.

Iraq called the meeting to enlist support to end violence four years after the U.S. invasion but it was also a rare opportunity for officials from Washington and Tehran to meet at a time of growing tension over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR057752.htm

Results of Iraq meeting "positive": Iraqi FM 18 minutes ago



BAGHDAD (AFP) - Talks at a security conference of Iraq's neighbours and the permanent members of the UN Security Council were "positive and constructive", Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Saturday.

Zebari said the 16 nations represented at the Baghdad conference had agreed on the creation of three technical committees for officials to talk about security cooperation, Iraqi refugees and energy supplies.

But he said they had failed to agree on a date and venue for a follow-up conference at a higher, ministerial level.

Iraq would like the talks to take place in the country, but some envoys want moved them to Cairo or Istanbul.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070310/wl_mideast_afp/iraqsecuritytalksiran_070310163727


U.S. envoy says Rice will be at next Iraq meeting
BAGHDAD, March 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Iraq said on Saturday U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice would attend a planned ministerial meeting of regional and world powers on Iraq expected to be held in Istanbul in April.

"The Turks offered to host the meeting in Istanbul and should such a meeting take place the secretary has already stated she will attend," Zalmay Khalilzad told a news conference.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO058852.htm