Iraq says optimistic Iran will be at conference

Baghdad, Apr 29: Iraq said today it was optimistic Iran would attend a conference in Egypt next week to which major powers and Baghdad's neighbours have been invited.

Iran has not said yet whether it will attend the conference, called mainly to discuss how to stop the violence in Iraq. US officials accuse Iran of supplying weapons and training to Shi'ite Muslim militias, a charge Tehran denies.

''We are optimistic that Iran will participate ... Iran is a pivotal state and an important state in the region like other countries,'' Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told al Iraqiya state television.

Iran has been pressing Iraq to secure the release of five Iranians detained by US forces in the northern Kurdish city of Arbil in January.

Tehran says the five are diplomats but Washington says they are linked with Iranian Revolutionary Guard networks that provide explosives and arms to militias.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend the conference. US State Department officials have said Rice is open to direct talks with Iran.

The conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh is a follow-up to a meeting held in Baghdad in March.

Reuters>