US invites Iran and Syria to talks on Iraq in reversal of Bush policy

February 28, 2007
US invites Iran and Syria to talks on Iraq in reversal of Bush policy

The Bush administration gave up one of the central tenets of its Middle East strategy yesterday, reversing its much criticised effort to isolate Iran and Syria by inviting both states to negotiations on stabilising Iraq.

The initiative, announced last night by the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, in testimony to the Senate appropriations committee will see America and Britain join Iraq and its neighbours in talks to try to rein in the country's sectarian violence.