Putin calls for international conference on Iraq

Russian president Vladimir Putin will tell US president George Bush that Moscow backs an international conference to help Iraqis decide the future of their country.

Putin says he expects to discuss the situation in Iraq with Bush when the two meet today on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Santiago, Chile.

“We support holding a wide international conference, with participation of all involved parties, especially Iraq,” Putin said yesterday in a joint news conference with Chilean president Ricardo Lagos.

The international conference, Putin added, “should help to consolidate the Iraqi society and create the conditions to allow the Iraqi people freely decide on the future of their own country.”

Putin did not elaborate on what else he planned to discuss with Bush.

He said his government would continue to “co-operate and talk” about the Iraqi situation with countries such as Chile which, as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, opposed the war against Iraq.

After the Apec summit, Putin will fly to Brazil for a state visit.