Maliki to visit Syria Wednesday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will start a one-day visit to Syria on Wednesday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad on means of boosting bilateral relations, according to Syrian news agency (SANA). The meeting will also take up the current situation in Iraq and the government formation crisis. According to Iraqi diplomatic sources, Maliki will also meet with Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Utri to discuss several economic and commercial files in light of the agreements and memos of understanding signed between the two countries. President al-Assad had received a written message from al-Maliki last June on the importance of boosting bilateral ties in all fields. SH (P)/SR 3