Iraqi PM arrives in Damascus

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Damascus on Wednesday leading a high-profile delegation to meet President Bashar al-Assad and a number of Syrian officials. “Talks in Syria will focus on ways of boosting bilateral relations,” state-run al-Iraqiya satellite channel reported. The anticipated meeting in Damascus comes as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki tries to hang onto his job amid a seven-month political impasse in Baghdad that has left Iraq’s government adrift. Iraq and Syria have suffered a strained diplomacy for years, going back decades. Efforts to normalize relations suffered a blow last year, when al-Maliki accused Syria of harboring those behind deadly blasts in Baghdad that killed 101 people. But last month, Iraqi leaders announced they would reopen their embassy in Damascus, and expected Syria to re-establish their ambassador in Baghdad. Al-Maliki adviser Yassin Majeed said the prime minister also plans to visit Turkey and Jordan this week. Meanwhile, Allawi and two key Sunni allies were in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, reaching out to other Arab states for support. SH (S)/SR 1