Bomber strikes as security meet opens in Baghdad

A suicide bomber attacked an army checkpoint in Baghdad killing 26 people near the venue of a major conference of foreign envoys...

A suicide bomber attacked an army checkpoint in Baghdad killing 26 people near the venue of a major conference of foreign envoys, including those of arch foes US and Iran. Iraq called Saturday8217;s meeting to enlist support to end violence four years after the US invasion, but it was also a rare opportunity for officials from Washington and Tehran to meet at a time of growing tension over Iran8217;s nuclear ambitions.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad urged Iraq8217;s neighbours and other world powers to do more to help Iraq8217;s transition and stop the flow of fighters, weapons and sectarian propaganda.

8220;I urge all neighbours to categorically reject the principle that selective violence against certain categories of Iraqis or against Coalition and Iraqi security forces is acceptable,8221; Khalizad said.

A source at the talks said Iranian delegates demanded the release of several Iranians captured by US forces in Iraq, including five men Tehran says are diplomats who were detained in a raid on an Iranian government office in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil on Jan 11.

Six soldiers were among those killed when the suicide attacker rammed a military position guarding the entrance to the east Baghdad Shiite enclave of Sadr City as part of a city-wide operation to quell sectarian violence.

Iraq8217;s prime minister appealed for international help to sever networks aiding extremists and warned envoys from neighbours and world powers that Iraq8217;s growing sectarian bloodshed could spill across the Middle East.

8220;Iraqi has become a front-line battlefield,8221; Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told delegates. He expressed hope the conference could be a 8220;turning point in supporting the government in facing this huge danger.8221;

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Shortly after the meeting began under tight security, at least two mortar shells fell near the Foreign Ministry.