IRAQ: Iraqi PM Al-Maliki says reconciliation is the key to saving Iraq while urging regional rivals to stay out of Iraq conflict

Record ID: 858069

  • Title: IRAQ: Iraqi PM Al-Maliki says reconciliation is the key to saving Iraq while urging regional rivals to stay out of Iraq conflict
  • Date: 10th March 2007
  • Summary: (BN 9) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 10, 2007) (REUTERS) BLACK SMOKE RISING INTO THE SKY ABOVE THE GREEN ZONE WHERE MORTARS LANDED CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE RISING INTO SKY FROM THE GREEN ZONE
  • Embargoed: 25th March 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • City:
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABVR1UGSSK7P40XYYK3LQJTNBL
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  • Story Text: Iraq's prime minister urged regional rivals on Saturday (March 10) to stop playing out their differences in his country, addressing a meeting at which U.S. officials sat down with adversaries from Iran and Syria.
    The conference in Baghdad aims to stop sectarian warfare in Iraq and prevent the conflict's spread throughout the region.
    In his opening speech, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Iraq must not be the place where other countries play out their differences or interfere in domestic affairs.
    "We ask of those participating in the conference, and their supporters from the international community, to take into account Iraq's historical and sociological specificity," Maliki said.
    "And the actions of countries, regional or international, should not be guided by the desire to achieve a stake or a position of influence in Iraq through a sect, a community or a party," Maliki said.
    Maliki also called on officials from regional and world powers to pursue dialogue to settle disputes over Iraq.
    Iraq called the meeting to rally regional support to stop sectarian violence that threatens to tear the country apart, killed tens of thousands and driven some 2 million abroad since a U.S.-led invasion four years ago toppled Saddam Hussein.
    Two explosions rocked the conference venue around lunchtime. A Reuters witness said they appeared to be mortars landing nearby.
    Iraq plans to invite foreign ministers from regional countries and the G8 group of industrialised nations to a meeting in April, a government spokesman said later.
    Besides finding ways to stop the bloodshed in Iraq, the one-day meeting was a rare opportunity for old foes the United States, Iran and Syria to sit at the same table.
    There was no indication delegations from the three countries held any bilateral talks. Washington and Tehran are at loggerheads over Iran's nuclear programme.
    The United States has also accused Iran and Syria of fomenting violence in Iraq and supplying weapons and support for militant groups, charges both countries deny.
    Security officials in the region have also identified a steady stream of Sunni extremists from neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Syria.
    The Shi'ite prime minister said national reconciliation between Iraq's Shi'ite and Sunni factions was the only way to prevent his country from sliding into all-out civil war and stop the conflict spreading beyond Iraq borders.
    "The reconciliation initiative is the ship that will save us," Maliki added.
    The conference brings together mid-level officials from Iraq's neighbours, the permanent U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and Arab countries. There will be 16 delegations in all.
    After Maliki's speech the delegates met behind closed doors for sessions expected to last most of the day.
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