Iraq stability hinges on pullout of US forces-Syria

DAMASCUS, Mar 7 (Reuters) Syria will work toward stabilising Iraq but a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops is needed to achieve peace, Syrian Vice-President Farouq al-Shara said today.

''Syria will contribute ... to help Iraq, restore security and make national reconciliation a success,'' Shara said after meeting his Iraqi counterpart Tareq al-Hashemi.

''The basis for any political process is the preservation of Iraqi unity and independence according to a timetable (for a pullout) that helps achieve total reconciliation,'' Shara said.

The United States, which accuses Syria and its ally Iran of helping the insurgency, has refused to set a schedule, saying it would embolden the rebels.

Syria will attend a conference aimed at stopping the violence on Saturday in Baghdad. Iran and the permanent UN Security Council members, including the United States, will also take part.

Hashemi will visit Tehran next week. He said Iran should ''help get Iraq out of its crisis and nothing else.'' REUTERS SP KN2327