Iraqi PM makes first Syria visit

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Monday, 20 August 2007, 09:30 GMT 10:30 UK

Iraqi PM makes first Syria visit

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is visiting Syria, his
first trip to the country since taking office last year.

Mr Maliki will be meeting the Syrian president, Bashar
al-Assad, during the three-day visit.

Among the issues Mr Maliki is expected to discuss is
the plight of Iraqi refugees, almost two million of
whom live in Syria.

Two weeks ago, Mr Maliki went to Iran. Both Iran
and Syria have been accused by the US of supporting
Iraqi militias.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6954321.stm

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Source: Associated Press

Iraqi prime minister al-Maliki in Syria for first official visit

The Associated Press
Published: August 20, 2007

DAMASCUS, Syria: Iraq's embattled Nouri al-Maliki came to
Syria on Monday on his first visit here as prime minister amid
efforts to garner neighbors' support for curbing violence at
home.

The three-day sojourn by the Iraqi Shiite leader is expected to
focus on the sensitive border issues plaguing the two nations.

The United States and Iraq have repeatedly accused Syria of
failing to reign in the flow of militants, foreign fighters and
arms across the porous boundary into Iraq.

-snip-

Syria's official news agency SANA said that al-Maliki talks here
would deal with the current security and political situation in
Iraq, as well as economic cooperation between the two
countries.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/20/africa/ME-GEN-Syria-Iraq.php