Iraq pressing for Rice talks with Iran-diplomats

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Source: Reuters

Baghdad is pressing for talks between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Iranian counterpart on Friday when an international conference seeks ways to end the Iraq conflict, diplomats said. But the diplomats, who declined to be named, said Iran was holding out against substantial contacts with Rice, although she and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki exchanged what U.S. officials described as pleasantries over lunch on Thursday.

Rice's encounter with Mottaki and talks with Syria's foreign minister later on Thursday marked a shift in U.S. President George W. Bush's once resolute opposition to high-level contacts with Iran and Syria as he seeks ways to end the Iraq conflict.

Baghdad's interest in seeing a Rice-Mottaki meeting is clear as it is widely acknowledged Shi'ite Muslim Iran is an influential force on Iraq, both as a neighbour and because of its links with elements in the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, did not rule out a meeting between Rice and Mottaki.

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