Iranians Will Attend Regional Conference, May Meet With Rice

04/29/2007

By KIRK SEMPLE and CHRISTINE HAUSER
NY Times
Published: April 29, 2007


BAGHDAD, April 29 — The government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran agreed today to attend a regional conference about Iraq later this week, ending weeks of uncertainty about whether it would participate.

Mr. Ahmadinejad confirmed his nation’s plans during a telephone call to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq, according to a statement issued by Mr. Maliki’s office. Mr. Ahmadinejad’s announcement followed a series of negotiations between their two countries, including a visit by Iraq’s foreign minister to Tehran last week.

The regional meeting, set for Thursday and Friday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheik, is expected to draw the foreign ministers from Iraq’s neighbors,as well as from Egypt, Bahrain and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The conference is intended to explore ways to quell the relentless violence in Iraq.

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