Call to support security transfer

Sharm Al Shaikh: The final statement of a conference on Iraq urged all participants yesterday to support the transfer of security responsibilities in the country from US-led to Iraqi forces.

"The participants agreed to ... welcome offers by Arab and other countries to support the development of the professional capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces," said the statement, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

Iraq's neighbours and key international players meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm Al Shaikh called for the speedy transfer of security responsibilities but did not call for a withdrawal timetable.

The participants pledged to "renew their support for the government of Iraq's efforts to accelerate the preparedness of its armed forces to assume full security and defence responsibilities in their country."

The communique added that such a process "will pave the way for the conclusion of the mandate of the multinational forces, whose presence will not be open-ended."

It added that ending the coalition forces' presence in Iraq would come "upon the request of and in accordance with timing to be agreed by the government of Iraq."

Several Arab countries have repeatedly demanded a deadline for a US troop pull-out, something both the Baghdad government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and Washington have always refused to set.

Commenting on the final statement during a news conference, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gaith said: "To have unanimity... this was the maximum."

Iraq urged its neighbours to stop militants sneaking into Iraq and is expected to ask the Arab League to hold a conference on national reconciliation.

Iraq made the call to its six neighbouring states that also brought together the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the European Union and the Group of Eight leading industrialised countries.

"We will not allow terrorist organisations to use Iraqi territory as a safe haven," Al Maliki told an opening session of the one-day conference.

"That is what drives us to call on the regional neighbours to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups into Iraq and to stop them obtaining material support and political and media support."

The talks are due to focus on border security, Iraqi refugees and political reconciliation between Iraqi factions and ethnic and religious communities.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa said a draft final communique from the conference was expected to call on the Arab League to convene a national reconciliation conference for Iraq.

"We are ready for this. We are ready to host Iraqi national reconciliation," he said. "Now is not the time to exchange accusations but is the time to work together."

Mousa gave no time frame as to when such a meeting could take place, nor did he say where it would be held. The 22-member Arab League is based in Cairo.

The European Union reiterated its long-term commitment yesterday to Iraq's stabilisation and economic rebuilding.

But EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner stressed it was foremost the job of the Iraqi government to "reduce violence, terrorism (and) improve security" and build more confidence with neighbouring countries.

"Our commitment to work with Iraq will be for the long term," she said. "But overcoming sectarian divisions is absolutely paramount" if Iraq is to become stable, prosperous and democratic, she said.

She said it was "highly important that there is a much better dialogue between the Iraqi government" and neighbouring countries.

"The region [lacks] dialogue and concerted regional cooperation," said Ferrero-Waldner.

Two of Iraq's neighbours, Jordan and Syria, have taken in the largest number of Iraqi refugees since the 2003 US-led invasion. An estimated 1.5 million Iraqis have fled to Syria alone.