Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iraqi, Iranian, And U.S. Officials Meet In Baghdad

August 6, 2007 -- Experts from Iraq, the United States, and Iran are meeting today in Baghdad to follow up on two previous senior-level meetings concerning security in Iraq.

AFP quoted an unnamed U.S. Embassy official as suggesting it is an "Iraqi-led" meeting of "experts" at which "only security will be discussed."

The Iranian news agency ISNA quoted Tehran's ambassador to Iraq, Hasan Kazemi-Qomi, as saying talks today will focus on the composition and mandate of a tripartite security committee.

In a statement today, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said the success in the talks will be good for all parties. He also said he hopes the Iranian side "will play a positive role to meet the expectations of the Iraqi nation."

Two rounds of senior talks in May and July were attended by the U.S. and Iranian ambassadors.

The United States has accused Iran of arming and training Shi'ite militias in Iraq, while Tehran has denounced the presence of foreign forces in the country.

Forty-Five Dead In Latest Violence

Meanwhile today, at least 30 people were killed and some 50 others injured in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar when a suicide truck bomber struck a crowded Shi'ite neighborhood. A complete curfew was imposed on the city after the attack, which also destroyed nearby homes.

In a southern suburb of Baghdad, a roadside bomb reportedly killed nine Iraqis and wounded others at a minibus stop. Both bombings hit during morning rush hour. Another six people were reported killed in clashes in the town of Al-Dulu'iyah, north of Baghdad.

(Reuters, AP, AFP)

Copyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org