DAMASCUS, Syria - Iraq's neighbors opened a conference Saturday on the impact of the U.S.-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein, but Baghdad's interim government - insulted by a last-minute invitation - snubbed the talks and vowed to reject any decisions made there.
Iraqi officials planned to use the forum in the Syrian capital, Damascus, to demand an end to cross-border infiltration by foreign fighters believed to be participating in a recent upsurge of violence in Iraq.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of Syria, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, plus the largest Arab country - politically influential Egypt.
They discussed ways to restore stability to Iraq and reviewed the war's effects on the region, according to a statement released by the ministers.
The ministers also contacted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to renew an invitation to attend Sunday's talks, according to the statement. It was unclear whether he accepted.
We expect that Iraq will be with us tomorrow
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said after the late Saturday session.
Iran's foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, expressed hope that Zebari would attend yesterday, saying there is general interest in having the Iraqis present to discuss issues with them.
The dispute over whether Iraq should participate highlighted lingering divisions over the war.
Syria and Iran strongly opposed the U.S.-led conflict, while Kuwait was the launching pad for the invading U.S. forces. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt are key U.S. allies in the region.
Some worried that Iraq's presence could divert the forum's focus on dealing with the aftermath of the war and discussing possible participation by Iraq's neighbors in a stabilization force.
Turkey has offered to send 10,000 troops to Iraq, but deployment is increasingly uncertain amid strong opposition by many Iraqis and some neighboring countries.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said Amman would repeat that it is dangerous to send military forces to Iraq from neighboring countries, Jordan's official Petra news agency reported.
Despite conflict over Baghdad's possible role at the talks, Syria extended a last-minute invitation to the Iraqi foreign minister late Friday night.
Zebari was asked to come to Damascus to attend a session yesterday, with Saturday's first session to focus on whether Iraq's representative should be allowed to participate, Syrian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Bushra Kanafani said.
He rejected the offer.
With the absence of a clear invitation by the Syrian government it is very difficult for Iraq to participate in this meeting and we will not abide by or accept any decisions taken by this meeting
Zebari said at a Baghdad news conference.
Iraq's Governing Council also wanted to use the meeting to urge neighbors to provide information on former Saddam regime figures who may be hiding in their countries.
The terrorists are coming from all the borders
including Syria
Zebari said.
Kharrazi said neighboring countries are interested in promoting the security of Iraq and controlling their shared borders.
They're doing their best to control their border line
but at the same time there may be some elements who cross the border
which has to be avoided
he said.
U.S. officials have said foreign fighters may be behind a recent upsurge in attacks against coalition forces, international aid agencies and Iraqis in Iraq. America has accused Syria of not doing enough to prevent foreign fighters infiltrating through its eastern border into Iraq to attack U.S.-led coalition forces.
What is required of neighboring countries that care about the unity and sovereignty and security of Iraq is to back Iraqi efforts to bolster security and stability
combating terrorism and barring terrorists from crossing over
and protecting the border
