The Iraqi foreign minister, Muhammad Said al-Sahhaf, has held talks in Tehran with the Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami, on how to improve bilateral ties.

The Iranian news agency IRNA said Mr Khatami hoped that with goodwill on both sides the problems affecting their relations could be resolved.

Correspondents say that since the eight-year war between the two neighbours in the 1980s, relations have been troubled by disputes involving prisoners of war and mutual accusations that each country backs armed rebels from the other side.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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