Top Syrian official arrives in Iraq

[maddezmom]

By QAIS Al-BASHIR, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - Syria's foreign minister arrived in Baghdad on Sunday, the highest ranking official from his country to visit since the U.S.-led war began in 2003, at a time when Syria is increasingly seen as key to helping stem the insurgency.

The sectarian violence continued Sunday, with the deadliest attack in the southern Shiite city of Hillah, where a suicide bomber in a minivan lured day laborers to his vehicle with promises of a job then blew it up, killing 22 people, police said. Police later announced the arrest of three insurgents who had planned the attack — two Egyptians and an Iraqi — and said the suspects claimed the bomber was Syrian.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, in his first visit since the ouster of Saddam Hussein, promised to cooperate with Iraqi authorities struggling to control chaos that threatens the country with civil war. But Moallem called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

"We believe that that a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq will help in reducing violence and preserving security," Moallem said.
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more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061119143613