VP arrives in Manama within Arab tour

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi arrived in Manama on Thursday within his Arab tour, according to a statement from his office. “Al-Hashemi will meet with Bahraini Monarch Hamad bin Issam al-Khaliefa, with whom he will discuss ways of boosting bilateral relations as well as the latest political developments in Iraq,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Al-Hashemi will also have talks with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Issan al-Khaliefa and Prime Minister Prince Khaliefa bin Salman al-Khaliefa,” the statement added. “The visit is the second in his tour after visiting Qatar,” it said. The 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. SH (P)/SR 1