Syrian Premier Visits Iraq

Syria's prime minister is in Baghdad for a two-day visit amid efforts to improve relations between the two countries.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari was expected to confer with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other senior figures.

Iraq and Syria restored full diplomatic ties on September 24, little more than a year after they both recalled their envoys after a row erupted over Baghdad's accusing Damascus of harboring the masterminds of devastating attacks in August 2009 in the Iraqi capital.

compiled from agency reports