Iran says backs any efforts to stabilise Iraq

TEHRAN, Mar 11 (Reuters) Iran declared today that it backed efforts to quell violence in Iraq and hailed a regional meeting in Baghdad where its officials sat down with adversaries from the United States as a ''good step''.

''We support any efforts that will bring Iraq out of its current problems ... and help the Iraqi security. Iran will be the first supporter of this plan,'' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.

Iraq signalled that world powers and neighbouring countries, including Washington and its opponents Iran and Syria, had agreed in yesterday's talks in Baghdad that it was vital to stop Shi'ite-Sunni sectarian violence spreading through the region.

Washington has accused Tehran and Damascus of fomenting violence in Iraq, charges both countries deny.

Iran, like Iraq, has a majority Shi'ite Muslim population and has good relations with several leading Iraqi politicians, some of whom spent years in exile in Iran.

''As the first step, it was a good step,'' Hosseini said of the Baghdad talks, speaking in a weekly news conference broadcast by state television. He said all sides present had considered the meeting ''constructive''.

Ahead of the gathering, Iranian analysts said a positive outcome could help ease tensions in other areas, including a row between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme.

US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad said only issues related to Iraq were discussed with Iran. Hosseini echoed that, saying talks covered Iraqi security and related matters.

''We hope that other countries present at the Baghdad conference will change their political behaviour towards Iraq,'' he said without naming the countries to which he referred.

While the United States accuses Iran of supporting militants in Iraq, Tehran blames the US occupation for the violence.

After talks, the United States said Turkey offered to host a planned follow-up ministerial-level conference in April and that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would attend it.

Iran's English-language daily Kayhan International, a regular critic of US policy, questioned the aims of yesterday's meeting.

''The inclusion of Iran and Syria is in fact a red herring which the U.S. neo-cons are using in order to implement their new project in Iraq -- that is to enter new players into the ongoing occupation in order to fend off rising calls for a military pullout,'' the newspaper wrote.

Analysts say such comments reflect views of Iran's more radical voices opposed to any rapprochement with Washington which broke diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980. Some moderate newspapers viewed the meeting more positively.

REUTERS SP PM1824