Iraq welcomes Iran's participation in conference

TAMPA, Fla, Apr 30 (Reuters) Iraq welcomes Iran's participation in a conference this week on regional security, Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffak al Rubaie said.

Al Rubaie also said he hoped the meeting in Egypt would lead to better relations between Iran and the United States.

''It's very important for Iraq to get the United States and Iran talking to each other,'' al Rubaie told reporters at a meeting here yesterday.

He was in Tampa to attend a meeting of member nations of the US-led coalition fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. US President George W Bush is scheduled to address the meeting tomorrow at US Central Command headquarters.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday in television interviews would not rule out the possibility of talking to Iranian officials at the meeting.

''It's a positive step,'' al Rubaie said of Iran's decision to attend the meeting. ''We have to break this ice.'' The United States has accused Iran of aiding the insurgents in Iraq, but al Rubaie said Iraq had no solid evidence to prove this.

Al Rubaie also said he opposed legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq. Bush has promised to veto the bill.

''It will play into the hand of the terrorists. Iraq is at the forefront of the fight against al Qaeda,'' al Rubaie said.

He said he could not give a timetable for when Iraqi forces would be ready to protect the country on their own, but said it would be longer than a few months and urged Americans to be patient.

''Any precipitous action would have a very damaging effect not only on Iraq, but on the whole region. The terrorists would certainly consider this (a U.S. withdrawal) a huge victory,'' he said.

Al Rubaie said progress was being made in establishing security in Iraq, saying much of southern and northern Iraq was secure and violence was down in Baghdad.

''Six months ago, we were on the verge of a civil war. Now, no one (in Iraq) is talking about a civil war,'' he said.

''Failure (in Iraq) is not an option. The whole region would be on fire,'' al Rubaie said.

REUTERS DH BST0550