Iraq PM chides neighbours for lack of support

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malikichided neighbouring states on Tuesday for failing to bolsterties with Baghdad and write off Iraq's debts now that SaddamHussein is gone and Iraq is not a threat to the region.

Maliki, speaking at a meeting in Kuwait of foreignministers from the region and Western powers, did not name anycountries but his remarks appeared aimed at Sunni Arab statesthat have only low-level ties with his Shi'ite-led government.

He said Iraq was now a vastly different country from thatunder Saddam, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for decadesuntil he was ousted in 2003 by U.S.-led forces.

"Iraq today is different from the previous Iraq whichassaulted its neighbours," Maliki said.

He said Iraq was ready to play a "constructive role" infostering security and stability in the region and urgedneighbouring states to open embassies in Baghdad.

"It's difficult for us to explain why diplomatic ties havenot been resumed with Iraq. Many other foreign countries havekept diplomatic missions in Baghdad regardless of securityconsiderations," Maliki said.

No ambassador from a Sunni Arab nation has been stationedpermanently in Baghdad since Egypt's envoy was kidnapped andkilled shortly after arriving in 2005. Visits by top officialsfrom Arab states, which have been reluctant to extend fulllegitimacy to Iraq's U.S.-backed government, are also rare.

By comparison, Iraq has growing ties with non-Arab Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has pushedArab states to be more responsive on ties and debt relief, saidIraq was being reintegrated into the Arab neighbourhood. Somestates had stepped forward to offer diplomatic representationin Baghdad, she told reporters without providing any specifics.

"We urge Iraq's neighbours to strengthen their ties," Ricesaid.

Promises have been made by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to openup embassies in Baghdad. Washington hopes that if regionalpowerhouse Riyadh announces dates then others will follow.

The Kuwait meeting is a follow-on from gatherings of Iraq'sneighbours as well as permanent members of the U.N. SecurityCouncil that were held in Turkey and Egypt last year.

The next meeting would be held in Baghdad, Rice said,calling it "yet another sign that things are moving forward".

But violence continued in Iraq. The U.S. military announcedthree Marines had been killed in the past two days.

North of Baghdad, a female suicide bomber killed eightpeople and wounded 17 when she blew herself up outside a policestation, police said. And in Baghdad, a rocket attack in thecity's east killed six people and wounded 10, police added.

DEBT RELIEF

Maliki said Iraq was still waiting for debt relief.

About $66.5 billion of Iraq's $120.2 billion foreign debthas been forgiven, according to State Department estimates. Ofthe estimated $56 billion to $80 billion debt that remains,more than half is owed to Gulf Arab countries, the departmentsaid.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the Emir ofKuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, had agreed to createcommittees to study the question of reducing Iraq'scompensation payments imposed after the 1991 Gulf War.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, asked if he wasdisappointed there was not more tangible support for Iraq ondebt relief or diplomatic ties, said: "I think we have somecommitments, but we have to be patient with our Arab brothers."

Speaking at the closing news conference, Zebari added: "Weare not saying that there is absolute security. But there is anopportunity for embassies to work in a safe area."

A statement issued at the meeting urged other states,particularly Iraq's neighbours, to "open or reopen theirdiplomatic missions" and said the participants welcomed theIraqi government's "commitment to disarm all militias andextra-governmental armed group."

Maliki's security forces have been battling the Mehdi Armymilitia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for the past month.The cleric has threatened an "open war" unless Maliki calls offa crackdown in Baghdad and southern Shi'ite cities.

The U.S. military said on Tuesday it had killed fivemilitants overnight in the cleric's east Baghdad strongholdSadr City. Since Sadr's threat on Saturday U.S. forces say theyhave killed about 50 fighters in the capital.