Lebanon PM visits Iraq for talks

The US wants better ties between Iraq and Arab states

Lebanon's prime minister has met his Iraqi counterpart in the first visit to Baghdad by a Lebanese leader since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Fouad Siniora's trip comes a week after Jordan's King Abdullah became the first Arab head of state to visit since 2003.

Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki's office said the talks covered trade and regional ties.

Correspondents say the US has been pushing moderate Arab states, which are mainly Sunni, to build links with Iraq to counter the influence of Shia Iran.

Like Iraq, Lebanon has struggled with tensions between its Shia and Sunni Muslim communities and other religious sects.

Mr Siniora, a politician from Lebanon's Sunni community, heads a Lebanese government which includes the powerful Shia group Hezbollah.

Security progress

An Iraqi government statement said the two leaders had held "in-depth discussions on ways to enhance bilateral relations".

The discussion also "highlighted Iraq's tangible security progress," it said, and covered "Iraq's growing openness to its regional and Arab neighbours".

No Arab country has had an ambassador permanently stationed in Baghdad since Egypt's envoy was kidnapped and killed in 2005.

But Iran has long had a full embassy, President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad made a high profile trip in March and there are strong links between Shia Muslim organisations in Iran and Iraq.