(Corrects name of ambassador to Ali al-Mumin from Ali al-Munir in paragraph 2) BAGHDAD, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Kuwait's first ambassador to Baghdad since Iraq conquered the tiny country in 1990 formally took office on Wednesday, joining a growing list of envoys from Arab states strengthening ties with the Shi'ite-led government. Ali al-Mumin presented his credentials to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in a sign of the "depth of relations between the two brotherly countries", Talabani's office said in a statement. Former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein's army invaded Iraq's oil-rich neighbour in 1990, annexing it as a 19th province before being driven out by a U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Gulf War. Iraq still owes Kuwait billions of dollars in reparations and has been seeking to persuade Kuwait to forgive some of the debt. Washington and Baghdad have both complained that Iraq's Arab neighbours, mostly led by Sunni Muslims, were shunning the Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad. But with violence at four-year lows those ties have improved over the last few months. In August Jordan's King Abdullah became the first Arab leader since the fall of Saddam to visit Baghdad, and he has been followed by others. No Arab country had an ambassador posted in Baghdad from 2005 -- when Egypt's envoy was kidnapped and killed -- until last month, but several Arab ambassadors have arrived in the last few weeks. (Editing by Caroline Drees)
A displaced Christian woman walks in the courtyard of al-Saida monastery in Al-Qosh village, 45 km (28 miles) north of Mosul October 18, 2008. Christians have become targets of sectarian attacks. ...
