Biden joins diplomats, defense officials in Munich

BERLIN (AP) ? Top global diplomats and defense officials are gathering in Munich for an annual security conference expected to focus on the fighting in Mali and Syria and Iran's nuclear program.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden joins a dozen heads of state and government, and 70 foreign and defense ministers for the Munich Security Conference opening Friday.

The conference, in its 49th year, is renowned as a setting where top officials are able to address policy issues in an informal setting.

Others expected include Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi; the foreign minister and defense minister of France, which has combat troops in Mali aiding the military there battling Islamic extremists; and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia, which has supported the Syrian regime despite pressure to break with President Bashar Assad.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-01-Germany-Security%20Conference/id-e2776c112f2445ad9ea225ad03d8ce39

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