US, Iraq to press Arab nations to increase support for Iraq

Baghdad: Iraq and the United States will press Arab nations to strengthen ties with the Baghdad government at a meeting in Kuwait on Tuesday, at a time when Iran's influence in the country is growing.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will attend the meeting of Iraq's neighbours, said last week she wants Arab states to shield Iraq from Iran's "nefarious influences".

No ambassador from any Arab nation is stationed permanently in Baghdad. Visits by top officials from Arab states, which regard Iran with suspicion and have been reluctant to extend full legitimacy to Iraq's US-backed government, are also rare.

By contrast, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a high-profile trip to Baghdad last month. Officials also say Iran played a key role in halting fighting between Iraqi security forces and Shiite militias in southern Iraq late last month.

Washington, which accuses Iran of stoking violence in Iraq, has long urged Sunni Arab states to beef up embassies in Baghdad as a sign of support for the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.

Rice on Sunday urged Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in particular to fulfil promises to do so and called on Arab states to grant debt relief to Baghdad.

She said, "I think it is fair to say that the neighbours could do more to live up to their obligations because I do believe the Iraqis are beginning to live up to theirs."

Egypt said on Friday it would not send an ambassador to Baghdad unless security improved. Militants kidnapped and killed Egypt's envoy to Iraq in 2005.

Saudi Arabia promised last year to open an embassy in Baghdad but has so far failed to follow through.