Iraq: UN envoy briefed on latest government plans to stem violence

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki today briefed the top United Nations official there on various initiatives that he hopes will combat terrorism and bring down the level of sectarian violence in the war-torn country.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative Ashraf Qazi discussed a wide range of issues with Mr. Al-Maliki, including his recent trips to Abu Dhabi, New York and Washington, as well as the high-level meetings convened by Mr. Annan on the International Compact with Iraq (ICI).

The ICI was launched in July in an effort to end the killings and bring stability to Iraq and Mr. Annan told a high-level meeting of partner states last month that without greater global support, Iraq will fail to attain peace.

Mr. Al-Maliki expressed to Mr. Qazi his appreciation for the UN partnership with Iraq on the ICI and looked forward to an even closer engagement with it, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) reported.

The latest political and security developments in Iraq were also discussed.