Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah walk to attend the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq in Kuwait City, Kuwait, April 22, 2008. Egypt, Gulf Cooperation Council members, the G8 countries, five UN Security Council permanent members, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference attended the meeting on Tuesday.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    KUWAIT CITY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A ministerial conference on Iraq opened here Tuesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged the neighbors to help stabilize his war-torn country.

    The neighboring countries, especially the Gulf neighbors should help stabilize Iraq by living up to pledges to forgive its debt, Maliki urged at the opening session of the conference.

    Iraq has "passed the crisis" and is much better off than it was a year ago, the premier stressed, urging the neighbors and other sides to implement their pledges and commitments.

    Maliki is leading a delegation of top officials, including Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Minister of State for National Security Shirwan al-Waili for the conference of the Iraq's neighboring countries on the security situation in Iraq.

    The conference is the third of its kind after similar meetings held in Egypt in May and in Turkey in November 2007.

    It was also attended by Egypt, Gulf Cooperation Council members, the G8 countries, five UN Security Council permanent members, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference.

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