BRASILIA, Brazil, May 11 (Reuters) Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, on his first overseas trip since Iraq held elections, urged South American and Arab nations to help his country's reconstruction with investment.'We hope that this summit helps our people in their just fight,'' Talabani said in speech yesterday at a summit of South American and Arab countries.
''I ask you to understand Iraq's situation. I ask you to send delegations for information, for investments, to see the truths on Iraqi territory itself.'' Over the past two weeks, more than 300 Iraqis have died in guerrilla attacks. Yesterday insurgents kidnapped the governor of Iraq's rebellious Anbar province and the deadline set by captors of an Australian hostage passed with no word on his fate.
In his speech, Talabani, a Kurd, said Iraq was a rich and strong country which would ''lift itself up quickly.'' No country in South America supported the U.S.-led war to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and many countries were vocal in their opposition to the invasion.
But the declaration that will be issued at the end of the summit of 22 Arab and 12 South American leaders today is expected to express support for Iraq's efforts to beat the insurgents wreaking havoc on the country.
Talabani said his government's overwhelming ambition was to beat ''these terrorist bands that indiscriminately kill people.'' ''We came to this summit asking also for a condemnation of terrorism and these savage terrorist acts that are committed against the Iraqi people,'' he said. ''We are suffering from some problems but we are decided and we are sure of victory.'
