Maliki urges others to stay out of Iraq conflict as mortar rounds land nearby

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Maliki urges others to stay out of Iraq conflict
(Reuters)

10 March 2007

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s prime minister urged regional rivals on Saturday to stop playing out their differences in his country, addressing a meeting at which US officials sat down with adversaries from Iran and Syria.

The conference in Baghdad aims to stop sectarian warfare in Iraq and prevent the conflict’s spread throughout the region.

In his opening speech, Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki said all those with a stake in the peace of the Middle East should stand firm against terrorism in Iraq.

‘We call on all to take moral responsibility by adopting a strong and clear stance against terrorism in Iraq and cooperate in stamping out forces of terror,’ Maliki said, according to the text of his speech to the opening session. snip

Two explosions rocked the conference venue around lunchtime. A Reuters witness said they appeared to be mortars landing nearby.

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1. Explosions reportedly shattered the windows of a Baghdad building Saturday

Explosions reportedly shattered the windows of a Baghdad building Saturday where international delegates were meeting.

Sky News reported that two blasts that sounded like mortars landed near the Foreign Ministry building where Iraq was hosting the The Baghdad International Summit.


Iraqi officials had decided to conduct the international conference outside the heavily-fortified Green Zone to showcase the improving security situation in Baghdad, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, reported.


http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/20070310-075905-9573r/