Al-Maliki, Seniora agree on Iraqi oil exports to Lebanon (1st Lead)

Aug 20, 2008, 11:58 GMT

Baghdad - Visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday agreed, among other things, on the export of Iraqi crude oil to Lebanon during talks in Baghdad.

Seniora arrived in the Iraqi capital amid tight security Wednesday as the first Lebanese leader to visit the conflict-torn country in two decades. He was accompanied by his deputy and several members of his cabinet, including finance and foreign ministers, and an economic delegation.

Al-Maliki told reporters that discussions with his counterpart had focused on the strengthening of diplomatic ties and the return of Lebanon's ambassador to Iraq.

The two countries also discussed various trade agreements, which Seniora said, Lebanon sought to see implemented in the coming weeks. Lebanon was also keen to conclude investments in the oil sector, Seniora said.

Iraq regards his visit as an important step towards rebuilding relations with Lebanon. Baghdad is working to re-establish ties with its neighbours in the wake of five years of bloodshed.

Meanwhile, tensions between Sunni and Shiites in Iraq's northern Diyala province remained high Wednesday, a day after US-led Iraqi special forces carried out a raid on provincial government headquarters.

The raid sparked clashes between the forces and Diyala's Sunni governor, in which his secretary was killed. Iraq's Shiite Premier Nuri al-Maliki initiated a probe into the incident.

The raid was part of a crackdown in restive Diyala province which extends to the north-east of Baghdad as far as the Iranian border. The Iraqi forces also arrested the Sunni president of Diyala University.