Al-Maliki, Egyptian PM confer on recent developments

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has conferred with his Egyptian Counterpart, Ahmed Nadif, in Cairo, on the recent political developments and issues of joint interest, according to a statement by Maliki’s office on Tuesday evening. He added that his visit “comes within his current Arab and Regional tour, which covered a number of Iraq‘s neighboring states It said that “Maliki has discussed with the Egyptian Prime Minister in their meeting, attended by members of the Iraqi and Egyptain delegations, means for strengthening bilateral relations and the necessity of boosting them in all fields, in such a way that serves the interests of both sisterly countries and peoples.” The statement also reaffirmed that Prime Minister Maliki, during his current visit to Cairo, would also meet the Egyptian President, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. Prime Minister Maliki had concluded a short visit to Jordan, where met King Abdullah II, during his second visit to Iraq‘s neighboring states, after a visit to Syria last Wednesday. Maliki visited Tehran last Monday, where he met the Supreme Authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei. Maliki’s current tour is taking place at a time when the Iraqi political arena is witnessing continued differences among the main blocs that won Iraq‘s March 7th nationwide elections that ended with close results by the two main blocs, al-Iraqiya led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and State of Law, led by outgoing Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. Both blocs are competing to score the new prime minister’s post and the formation of the new government. SKH/SR 1