Iraqi, Syrian leaders hold talks on Baghdad stalemate (Roundup)

Oct 13, 2010, 17:26 GMT

Damascus - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki held a meeting Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the political stalemate in Baghdad, in the latest trip to Damascus by a key Iraqi leader.

A statement released from al-Maliki's office said that the Syrian president assured him decisions on his country's future 'must be Iraqi,' but no further details of the closed-door discussions were immediately made public.

The one-day visit is al-Maliki's first since Iraq's March 7 elections, which failed to produce an outright winner, or consensus on forming a new government.

Observers had expected the talks in Damascus to focus on efforts to form a government in Baghdad and bilateral economic deals, including the transport of Iraqi oil and gas through Syrian territory.

Prominent Iraqi politicians, including former prime minister Iyad Allawi - al-Maliki's rival - have recently visited Syria to discuss the political stalemate with regional powerbroker al-Assad.

Also, Allawi moved on Wednesday to form a coalition between his Iraqiya list and other parties, in an effort to offset al-Maliki's efforts to keep himself in the premiership.

According to Iraqiya List spokeswoman, Maysoon Damluji, negotiations with other parties are in 'advanced stages' and a new alliance was expected.

She singalled that the party could even garner the support of some of al-Maliki's largely Shiite partners.

The visits to Syria by the Iraqi leaders come just days after Baghdad and Damascus restored full diplomatic relations, following decades of strained relations.

Baghdad recently reinstated its ambassador to Damascus, a year after a row that centred around allegations by al-Maliki that Syria was allowing terrorists to cross into Iraq to carry out bombings. Syria has strongly rejected the allegations.

Al-Maliki is also expected to visit Iran and Jordan following his trip to Syria, according to Iraqi television.

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