WASHINGTON, May 1 (Xinhua)-- U.S. President George W.
Bush said Tuesday that the coming international conference on Iraq's security
will test both Iran and Syria's seriousness to play constructive role in Iraq.
"Iran and Syria have been invited to attend. This
will be an important test of whether these regimes are truly interested in
playing a constructive role in Iraq," Bush said in a speech TAMPA, Florida.
The international conference on Iraqi issue is due to
be held in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3-4. It will group
all of Iraq's neighbors, the five permanent UN Security Council members, plus
representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, Canada, Germany and
Japan.
Both U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend the international
conference.
Rice said on Sunday she would not rule out talks with
Iranian officials at the meeting. Iran said it was ready to have discussion with
the U.S., but ruled out dialogue with Rice at Iraq conference.
"For the moment the conditions do not exist for such
a dialogue," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi said Tuesday.
The U.S. accuses both Iran and Syria of backing
anti-American insurgents in Iraq as well as U.S.-designated terrorist groups
elsewhere in the Middle East. กก