Next month's international conference on Iraq in Egypt should be open to all who are prepared to give up violence, the French foreign ministry said Monday. "(The conference) should be extended to include all Iraqi players who reject violence or who would make the decision to give it up," spokesman Herve Ladsous said. Two weeks ago Foreign Minister Michel Barnier caused some concern in Washington and within the Iraqi interim government when he said the conference should include members of the insurgency and discuss the departure of American troops. The summit, to be hosted by Egypt on November 25, will be attended by Iraq and its neighbours, the G8 group of industrialised nations, the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.| France gets style points as usual for sneakiness and doublespeak. I assume this means that the US would only be welcome if we renounce "violence" as well. |
| Remind me why the French were invited? |
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