Iraqi neighbours begin security talks in Damascus

Damascus - A two-day meeting of the Security Committee for Coordination and Cooperation on Iraq opened in Damascus on Sunday, the third time the US-backed group is meeting since its establishment in 2006. Participants include Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey Iran and Iraq. The meeting also hosts representatives of Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Conference and UN Security Council members, including the United States. The gathering discusses cooperation and security coordination between countries neighbouring Iraq in a bid to ensure stability in Baghdad. US sponsorship of the meeting is seen as part of Washington's drive to push Arab countries toward greater engagement in Iraq. Syria agreed to host it every year. However, coming almost a month after the October 26 attack by helicopter-borne American soldiers, which Damascus said left eight people dead in a Syrian village near the border, there had been doubts whether this year's meeting would be held. Syria protested against the raid and held both Iraq and the US responsible. It has also shut down an American school and a cultural centre and warned that Iraq would become a launchpad to strikes against its neighbours. While not commenting officially, unnamed senior US security officials were cited in media reports at the time as saying the raid had killed a senior al-Qaeda figure who was involved in smuggling fighters and arms into Iraq from Syria. A visit by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari earlier this month eased tensions and set the scene for today's meeting. During the visit Zebari told his Syrian counterpart that his country denounced the US raid and that Iraq would not be a base for raids on Syria. To further allay Syrian fears, Iraq also gave assurances that the US would not use Iraqi territory to attack neighbouring countries like Iran or Syria in the final draft of its controversial security pact with the US. After being approved by the Baghdad government last week, the final draft is now being discussed in a heated debate in parliament. A final vote is expected by Wednesday.