Iran pledges support to Al Maliki

Tehran : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki was in Iran for a second day of meetings. His fellow Shiite Islamist leaders pledged support for Iraq and efforts to avert civil war, drawing a wary response from Washington which accused Tehran of funding militants there.

Al Maliki met Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday on his first official visit to Iran..

On Tuesday, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said that Iraq is a "natural ally" of Iran.

Larijani made the remarks during his meeting with the visiting Al Maliki, who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday morning at the head of a high-ranking delegation for a two-day visit to review issues of mutual interest with senior Iranian officials.

"With historical ties between the Iraqi and Iranian nations as the backdrop, this unity is restored today with establishment of Al Maliki's government," he said.

The SNSC secretary expressed hope the Iraqi premier would succeed in his policies aimed at establishing sustainable security in the strife-torn country.

He said Iran will cooperate with Iraq in efforts to establish security and preserve the country's territorial integrity.

Al Maliki, for his part, said Iran is a friend and ally of Iraq, and praised Iran for its consistent support to Iraqi leaders during the difficult times under ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hossein.

He praised Iran's policies favouring reconstruction and economic expansion of Iraq and establishment of sustainable security in the country.

The Iraqi premier said his visit will further bolster bilateral cooperation.

His current official visit is his first to Iran since he took office as premier and is in Tehran upon an invitation of the Iranian president.

He is accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers and National Assembly deputies.