Iran President Visits Iraq
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Baghdad on the first ever visit to Iraq by an Iranian president.
The visit marks the culmination of a process of normalisation between the two countries after the long war they fought in the 1980s.
Correspondents say the two-day visit is also a strong show of support for the Shia-dominated government in Baghdad.
Mr Ahmadinejad is meeting the Iraqi PM and president – both of whom have visited Iran.
The US is not involved in security for the visit and did not provide helicopters to transport Mr Ahmadinejad into central Baghdad.
Instead he had to travel by car along the usually dangerous road from the airport to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s residence near the US-controlled Green Zone.
He was warmly greeted by Mr Talabani as he walked down a red carpet, meeting members of the Iraqi government.
Source: BBC.
0