Arab League envoy visits Iraq

BAGHDAD, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The Arab League says it has sent to Iraq an ambassador who is seeking reconciliation between Arab nations and Iraq's Shiite-led government.

Arab League envoy Hani Khalaf arrived in Baghdad Tuesday, only one day after Egypt's foreign minister made his first visit to post-U.S. invasion Iraq, The Washington Post reported. The newspaper said the two diplomatic visits indicate Sunni-led Arab nations may slowly be dropping their hesitancy recognizing the country.

Analysts told the Post that even though the United States has urged regional Arab governments to re-establish ties with Iraq, most have balked because of continuing violence in the country and because of fears it would appear they were endorsing the 2003 U.S. invasion.

"We need a more active Arab role in Iraq," the newspaper quoted Khalaf as saying in Cairo before his trip to Baghdad.