"All those with interests and influence in the Syrian affair must participate in the meeting," Brahimi said, when asked at a Baghdad news conference whether countries backing the opposition were welcome at the talks.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the news conference that "everyone is now convinced that (a) political and peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis is the available option" for "the interest of the Syrian people."

The news conference followed talks between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Brahimi, who is on a regional tour to build support for the planned peace conference tentatively scheduled for next month.

"The arrival of military options at a dead end and the growing conviction of the need to reach a political solution to the crisis" have increased the odds of a successful push for peace, the Iraqi premier said in a statement.

Maliki added that Iraq is ready to support Brahimi's efforts to broker a political solution "for all Syrians and the region."

Brahimi met with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo on Sunday, and is also planning to visit Iran, Qatar and Turkey as well as Syria during his regional tour.

The renewed push for peace talks comes after a rare US-Russian accord compelled Syria to agree to destroy its chemical arsenal.

But the opposition has been fiercely critical of the agreement and at least one major faction, the Syrian National Council (SNC), has already refused to go to Geneva.

NJF/NJF