Iraq reopens embassy in Saudi after 17 years

RIYADH, Feb 13 (Reuters) Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari today reopened his country's embassy in Saudi Arabia after 17 years and praised the kingdom for standing by Iraq.

''It is my honour ... to reopen the embassy in Riyadh which closed after the Iraq of (President) Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990,'' Zebari said.

''This will be an important step in improving relations between the two countries,'' he told a gathering of Saudi officials and foreign diplomats. ''Saudi Arabia has stood by the Iraqi people and the national reconciliation to create safety and security.'' Iraq has had a charge d'affaires in Riyadh since November 2005.

Iraqi officials say a new ambassador has yet to be appointed.

Saudi Arabia, a bastion of Sunni Islam, has backed US plans to send extra troops to tame a vortex of violence in Iraq, but expressed concern about the ability of the Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi government to deliver.

Both Riyadh and Washington accuse Shi'ite power Iran of interfering in Iraq and fomenting violence there through support for Shi'ite groups. Iran denies the accusation.

Saudi Arabia fears any early departure of US troops from Iraq could leave minority Sunnis at the mercy of Shi'ite militias and solidifying Shi'ite power there, analysts say.

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