Iraq plans April ministerial meeting, G8 invited

BAGHDAD, Mar 10 (Reuters) Iraq plans to invite foreign ministers from regional countries and the G8 group of the world's most developed countries to a meeting in April in Istanbul to further efforts to stabilise Iraq.

Such a meeting could bring together foreign ministers from Iran, Syria and the United States.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said a mid-level meeting of regional and world powers in Baghdad today had been ''positive'' so far, and closed door talks were continuing. He said the next meeting would be in April at ministerial level.

Iraq called today's mid-level meeting to enlist support to end violence four years after the US invasion but it was also a rare opportunity for officials from Washington and Tehran to meet at a time of growing tension over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

REUTERS AKJ KN1811