Contacts between Americans and representatives for the gunmen in Iraq

An American official said that the American embassy in Iraq made contacts with the representatives of gunmen but have not met with rebels directly.

The American official who asked to be anonymous said that the meeting was not made directly with the rebels, and that meetings were made with several persons sent by the rebels, noting that those were not negotiation mediators of the rebels.

Officials at the American embassy in Iraq refused negotiations with the armed groups or to mediate between them and the Iraqi government despite the readiness of certain Iraqis to represent these groups.

One official whot wanted to remain anonymous said that according to instructions from the American government "we do not talk with persons who gave financial aid for gunmen or were involved in killings." The official explained that persons who contacted with the embassy are academics, businessmen, and some officials in the former Iraqi Baath Party, stressing that the contacts did not include those representing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi group.