Iraq and Syria begin Mid-East shift

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The restoration of relations between Iraq and Syria is part of a series of manoeuvres in which new diplomatic horizons in the Middle East are being explored by all sides.

Iran has simultaneously offered to host a three-way summit between itself, Iraq and Syria this weekend.

The Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, is expected to go to Tehran, though it is not known if the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, will attend. President Talabani's spokesman said there would not be a summit but that Mr Talabani would meet the Syrian president at some other time.

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Problematic for Washington

Getting the UN or like-minded governments to impose sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear activities will be harder to achieve if Iraq and Iran suddenly emerge as more friendly neighbours.

On the other hand Washington can hardly prevent the Iraqi government from acting, as the sovereignty of Iraq is supposed to be paramount. It might therefore have little choice but to go along with all this, especially since President Bush's position has been weakened following the mid-term elections.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6168276.stm