WORLD> Middle East
Jordanian king returns home after Iraq visit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-12 06:41

AMMAN -- Jordan's King Abdullah II has returned home Monday after a short working visit to Iraq, Jordanian official news agency Petra reported.

During his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the king underlined the importance to unite Iraqis in all political spectra, saying this is the only way to build Iraq a sovereign state capable of serving its people and country.

The king, who arrived Baghdad earlier Monday, also reiterated Jordan's full support to Iraq, calling on all Arab states to support the war-torn country at this particular time.

The king's talks with top Iraqi officials also covered bilateral economic and trade issues, on top of which is oil supply to Jordan.

For his part, Maliki welcomed the king's visit, saying that it is a positive and advanced step to strengthen bilateral ties and opens the door for other Arab countries to develop relations with Iraq.

The Jordanian king's visit to Iraq is the first for a head of an Arab nation since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.