Turkey hosts Iraq security talks

Turkey has tightened security for its high-level guests

A second round of major international talks on promoting security and stability in Iraq gets under way in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday.
Foreign ministers of all six of Iraq's neighbours are gathering along with top diplomats from the UN, the G8 and international Arab and Islamic bodies.

The first round was held in Egypt in May, but despite good intentions it was short on tangible results.

Tensions on Turkey's border with Iraq may overshadow Saturday's meeting.

At Sharm el-Sheikh in May, an agreement in principle was reached to forgive Iraq some $30bn in debts.

Before setting off for Istanbul, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said that this time Baghdad would be hoping for practical steps, not just vague words.

The Iraqis will be pointing to a consistent reduction in virtually all forms of violence in recent months and arguing that providing services and generating jobs will be vital to sustaining that achievement, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad.