Maliki arrives in Amman

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived at the head of a high-ranking Iraqi delegation in the Jordanian capital Amman for talks with Jordanian officials on a host of issues of common interest, according to the semi-official al-Iraqiya channel. Earlier, a spokesman in Maliki’s office said the Iraqi premier headed for Amman on an official visit. “Prime Minister Maliki left at the head of a delegation to the Jordanian capital Amman to meet with King Abdullah II and his prime minister Samir al-Rifaie,” the spokesman told IraqiNews.com news agency. The two sides will tackle ways to cement bilateral relations, with special emphasis on the economy. Maliki’s one-day visit to Jordan will be followed by a visit to Tehran for talks with Iranian officials. Khalid al-Assadi, a member in Maliki’s Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) bloc, said in statements to IraqiNews.com that the Iraqi premier will also visit Ankara, Kuwait and Cairo upon previous invitations he had received prior to the March 7 legislative elections. AmR (S)/SR 1