Iraq’s Neighbours Discuss Security Concerns Ahead of Iraqi Election

The foreign ministers from five of the six countries neighbouring Iraq are meeting today in Amman, Jordan, to discuss security concerns as Iraq prepares for elections. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is boycotting the meeting, apparently in protest of comments by Jordan's King Abdullah. Abdullah recently suggested Iran may be trying to use the January 30 elections to establish Shiite Muslim clerical rule in Iraq. Iran has instead sent a lower-ranking official to attend the talks, which include foreign ministers from Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The meeting comes during an escalation in the violence in Iraq. On Wednesday, more than 20 people were reported killed in at least three suicide bombings.