Iraqi deputy premier flies to Iran

Baghdad: Iraq's deputy prime minister was travelling to Iran on Tuesday for a four-day visit to develop ties and prepare a forthcoming visit of the Iraqi prime minister, his office said.

Barham Saleh left for Tehran shortly after meeting with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who was visiting Baghdad.

He was heading a delegation that included the minister of state for foreign affairs, and the ministers of trade, planning and finance.

They were due to return on Friday, Saleh's office said, but did not have any immediate information on when Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki was to travel to Iran.