Stockholm - Swedish police said Monday they were preparing for an international gathering on Iraq that will be addressed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The United Nations and Iraq asked Sweden to host the one-day conference Thursday to follow-up progress since the International Compact for Iraq (ICI) was launched at a summit in Egypt a year ago.

Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage said hosting the conference was "a step in showing support for Iraq." Iraq and the UN were to co- chair the meeting.

The conference organizer, Ambassador Krister Kumlin, said 97 delegations were slated to attend, totalling some 500 to 600 participants.

The number showed how "committed" the international community was to Iraq, Belfrage said.

The final delegation tally was likely to be clarified just before the conference opens Thursday, Belfrage and Kumlin said.

Security police spokesmen said high-ranking officials like Rice and the Iraqi government delegation were often targets of threats. Press reports suggested 1,700 police officers were to be on duty.

Demonstrations against the US and events in Iraq were also expected, which would likely strain police resources.

The conference venue was located not far from Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, allowing delegates to arrive and leave the same day.

However, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt were due Friday to hold bilateral meetings with al-Maliki and other members of the Iraqi delegation.

Police have advised the general public that the arrival of the delegations and security cordons around hotels and other venues in downtown Stockholm will likely cause traffic jams Thursday and Friday. (dpa)