An international delegation is visiting Iraq to encourage reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The group includes Cyril Ramaphosa, a leading political figure from South Africa, and Martin McGuiness, a former commander of the Irish Republican group the IRA/. Here’s Paul Wood.

Martin McGuiness says that like the parties in Northern Ireland, the factions in Iraq have to come to the realization that talking is better than fighting. There must be an acceptance of the need for dialogue, he says, and that will require leadership. Mr. McGuiness comes to Baghdad after 2 rounds of meetings in Helsinki, where politicians from Northern Ireland and South Africa met members of the Iraqi government. The result was a 12-point plan, details of which will be announced in the green zone in Baghdad this afternoon.

World News from the BBC.