Baghdad: Iraq said it was investigating
reports that US delegates and Sunni insurgents held
reconciliation talks in Turkey this year, alleging the
meetings violated Iraqi sovereignty and showed tolerance for
terrorists.
In Washington, the State Department acknowledged that
unspecified meetings took place, but said Iraq knew about them
at the time.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she had
assured visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the
Iraqi government would be informed of any such meetings.
"We intend to make sure the Iraqi government is fully
informed of any such activities, whether they are sponsored by
another party or come from any other source," Clinton told a
joint news conference with al-Maliki after they met yesterday
at the State Department.
"We want to be sure that we have a close working
relationship and we have a very clear line of communication."
The prime minister said he was satisfied with the
assurance.
"I have been given a commitment that the
administration will not negotiate or reach any agreements with
those who killed American soldiers, Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi
people," he said.
Bureau Report
