Iraq says reconstruction meeting set for early May

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A high-level meeting to launch a five-year international reconstruction plan for Iraq will be held in early May, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Friday.

Dabbagh declined to say where the meeting, which is expected to involve numerous governments and international agencies, would take place.

But the timing coincides with a separate conference between Iraq, its neighbours and world powers that Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Thursday would convene in the first week in May. He also declined to give the location of the gathering.

The International Compact with Iraq would see Iraq given international support, financial, political and technical, in return for political, security and economic reforms.

"The Iraq Compact will be held in early May," Dabbagh said.

The reconstruction plan was unveiled by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi last month.

The compact outlines targets for Iraq to hit during the next five years, including annual economic goals. It also includes legislation the government hopes to pass by the end of 2007.

At the official launch of the compact, countries would be expected to make pledges of assistance, officials have said.

Iraq has the world's third-largest proven oil reserves but needs billions of dollars to revive the sector, which is crucial for rebuilding its shattered economy.

The ministerial meeting of Iraq's neighbours and world powers will follow up talks in Baghdad last month aimed at stabilising the country.