King of Jordan to visit Iraq
King Abdullah II of Jordan plans to visit Iraq soon in the first trip by an Arab leader since Saddam Hussein was deposed in 2003, officials have said.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Abdullah would hold talks next week with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and other officials.
He said in Baghdad that the visit was an important step for bolstering ties between Sunni Muslim Jordan and Iraq's Shiite-dominated government.
In Jordan, visiting Iraqi Industry Minister Fawzi Hariri said Abdullah would visit soon, but declined to give a date.
Iraqi Ambassador Saad al-Hayyani said preparations were under way for the visit, but that a date had not been set.
Jordanian officials declined to comment.