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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian offer of assistance in Iraq rudely rejected. |
| 2007-11-04 |
| An Iranian proposal for troops from Iran, Syria and other Arab states to replace U.S. forces in Iraq was swiftly rejected and ridiculed yesterday at a high-level gathering of Iraq's neighbors and world powers. As top diplomats from two dozen countries and international organizations took turns to discuss how to improve Iraq's security, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki suggested that a coalition from neighboring Arab states take over from U.S. forces, conference participants said. "The Iranian delegation distinguished itself again today with the most extraordinary proposal," said David Satterfield, the State Department's top coordinator on Iraq, who accompanied Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the Istanbul meeting. Ryan C. Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, who also attended the session, said Mr. Mottaki specifically identified Iran and Syria as potential troop contributors. Mr. Crocker called the Iranian idea a "fantasy" that should not be "dignified" with a response. Mr. Crocker said he expects to hold more talks on Iraq's security with Iranian diplomats in Baghdad in the near future, following two unproductive rounds earlier this year. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal offered the most forceful rejection of Mr. Mottaki's proposal, saying it would do nothing to stabilize Iraq, diplomats said. They noted that no one voiced support for the idea, and it was not clear whether it had at least Syria's backing. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |