Syrian prime minister in Baghdad

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa Miro has had talks with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, at the start of a visit to Baghdad.

Mr Miro is the first Syrian prime minister to visit Iraq since the two countries severed ties in the early 1980s.

President Saddam was quoted as saying that Iraq's enemies had been surprised by the development of relations with Syria after years of hostility.

They reopened their borders four years ago and have since resumed rail links and signed a free trade accord.

Mr Miro - who is accompanied by a large delegation of ministers and businessmen - is expected to sign various cooperation agreements.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service