Al Maliki hopes to improve Arab ties through Egypt

Cairo:  Iraq's prime minister continued a landmark visit to Cairo on Monday in what aides described as an ambitious attempt to improve relations with one of the Arab world's most powerful players.

Iraqi political analyst Hadi Jalo said that Nouri Al Maliki likely believes he has a better chance at mending ties with the Arabs through Egypt, rather than Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are seen more closely aligned with Iraq's Sunni parties, while Egypt is seen as more moderate.

"Al Maliki's chances with Saudi Arabia are so weak, he could not approach Saudi Arabia; so he wants to penetrate the Arab rejection shield of his government through his visit to Egypt," he said.

Al Maliki's last visit to Egypt was in 2007 as part of an international conference to discuss his war-ravaged country's future. But the present is designed specifically for meetings with Egyptian officials.

A statement posted on the prime minister's website following his arrival in Egypt expressed Al Maliki's happiness at moving forward with a new phase of cooperation between the two countries.

The trip appeared intended to drum up support in the Arab world, where Iraq's Shiite-led government and its close ties to Iran are often viewed with suspicion by its mostly Sunni neighbours.

Better relations

Al Maliki appears particularly eager for better relations with Egypt, an influential US ally and host of the Arab League. Relations, already strained during the reign of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain, deteriorated further after Egypt's ambassador to Baghdad was kidnapped and killed by Al Qaida in 2005.

Since the 2003 US-led invasion, the post-Saddam Hussain government struggled to build ties with other Arab nations. Several have since named ambassadors to Baghdad, including Egypt, which appointed a new envoy in June.