Iran has invited the Iraqi and Syrian presidents to Tehran for a weekend summit with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, has accepted the invitation and will fly to the Iranian capital on Saturday.

"All three countries intend to hold a three-way summit among Iraq, Iran and Syria to discuss the security situation and the repercussions for stability of the region," said Ali al-Adeeb, a legislator from the governing Dawa party of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister.

Key players

An Ahmadinejad spokesman said on Monday that Talabani's visit was scheduled several weeks ago to improve bilateral relations.

Talabani confidants said the invitation was issued on Thursday by Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazimi Qumi who said Bashar Assad, the Syrian president, would also would be in Tehran for the talks.

Both Iran and Syria are seen as key players in Iraq.

Syria is widely believed to have done little to stop foreign fighters and Al-Qaeda in Iraq recruits from crossing its border to join Sunni fighters in Iraq.

Iran is accused of arming and supporting Shia fighters.

Photo Caption

Parade of Shahab-3 missile in front of a picture of the Iranian late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, 22 September