February 28, 2007	Wednesday	Safar 10, 1428

WASHINGTON, Feb 27: The United States will attend a ministerial level meeting of Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria, as well as other world powers to discuss Iraq's future, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice indicated on Tuesday.

The meeting, expected in early April, will follow a lower level conference announced by Baghdad of Iraq's neighbours plus the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Ms Rice said in remarks prepared for delivery in Congress and released by the State Department.

Iraqi officials said the first gathering, to be held in Baghdad next month, would focus on ending sectarian violence and foreign support for rival militia and guerillas in the country.

That meeting would involve ambassadors and other envoys from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey as well as Egypt, Bahrain, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference plus the five UN Security Council powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

“This initial meeting will be followed, perhaps as early as the first half of April, by a ministerial level meeting with the same invitees, plus the G-8,” Ms Rice said in the remarks to be delivered to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The G-8, or Group of Eight, includes Japan, Canada, Germany and Italy.

“I would note that the Iraqi government has invited Syria and Iran to attend both of these regional meetings,” she said.

“We hope these governments seize this opportunity to improve their relations with Iraq -- and to work for peace and stability in the region,” she said.

Washington has accused Tehran of providing weapons and other support to Shia militia carrying out attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq.

It also accuses Syria of permitting Sunni militants to cross its border with Iraq to battle US troops in the country.—AFP