U.S. hails Arab League decision on Iraq

The State Department welcomed on Monday an Arab League initiative to promote reconciliation in Iraq among the country's deeply divided factions.

Department spokesman Sean McCormack called the Arab League action, taken at a conference in Saudi Arabia, a "positive development.

"We have urged Iraq's neighbors as well as other countries in the region lend their diplomatic support to the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government," he said.

"This step is timely. We think it's important to do so, not only rhetorically but with a presence there," he added.

He said the United States has been urging Iraq's neighbors for some time to think about sending diplomatic missions and a diplomatic presence to Iraq, AP reported.