Iran foreign minister to attend Iraq meeting

TEHRAN, Apr 29 (Reuters) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend a meeting of major powers in Egypt this week that will seek ways to end the violence in neighbouring Iraq, his spokesman said today.

''I confirm (that Iran will take part in the May 3-4 conference) ... Mr Mottaki will attend,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told Reuters.

Earlier today, the office of Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Iran had confirmed it will take part in the talks, expected also to be attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The US State Department has said Rice is open to direct talks with Iran over Iraq.

Relations between Iraq and Iran, both predominantly Shi'ite Muslim countries, have improved since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. But the United States accuses Tehran of fomenting instability in Iraq following the US invasion in 2003.

Washington and Tehran are also at odds over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western powers suspect is aimed at making atom bombs. Iranian officials deny the charge.

REUTERS KK RK1800