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Sunday February 23, 4:24 AM Greece reported setting up U.S.-Iraq meeting ATHENS (Reuters) - Retired U.S. general Anthony Zinni will meet two Iraqi generals in Athens next Wednesday as part of EU efforts to head off a war with Iraq, according to a Greek Sunday newspaper. To Vima, one of Greece's most authoritative newspapers, said in an early copy obtained by Reuters on Saturday that military officials from other Middle Eastern countries, including Libya, would attend the meeting organised by Greek authorities. "Next Wednesday in Athens Anthony Zinni, President George Bush's personal representative, will meet two Iraqi army generals from Baghdad in a rare meeting between the two countries," the newspaper said in its front-page story. To Vima said the two Iraqi generals were close confidantes of President Saddam Hussein and were making the trip with his blessing. The report did not name them. Zinni, a retired Marine Corps general and former commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf, is familiar with Middle Eastern leaders and has been a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians. "The critical meeting was organised in high secrecy by Greek Defence Minister Yannos Papandoniou in his role as the present head of EU defence and security matters," the newspaper said. "Iraq immediately accepted the meeting when Papandoniou sent out the invitation," it said. Greece is current president of the European Union under the 15-nation bloc's six-month rotation deal. A spokesman for Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis declined to confirm or deny the report. "If there is comment on this it will be made tomorrow (Sunday)," the spokesman said. As EU president, Greece has been in the forefront of efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis. Greece has diplomatic relations with Baghdad and an Iraqi ambassador is stationed in Athens. The United States and Britain say they have intelligence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and have threatened war unless Baghdad complies with U.N. demands to come clean. Baghdad says it does not possess such arms. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk