Nuri al-Maliki's third visit to the Iranian capital since he took office two years ago comes amid criticism in Baghdad and Tehran over the planned deal to keep US soldiers in Iraq beyond 2008.


"The prime minister's visit to Iran is considered a step in a series of visits ... and to form a strategy committee to develop the relationship between the two nations," Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman, said on Saturday.


He said al-Maliki will brief Iranian leaders on "the Iraqi vision, which is that it will not serve as a base or staging ground to launch attacks against neighbouring countries".

Last November, al-Maliki reached an agreement in principle with George Bush, US president, to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by the end of July.

However, the deal has not yet been finalised amid protests in Iraq over the US military’s presence in the country.

'Different vision'

Dabbagh said Iraq has a "different vision" from the US on the proposal to keep American forces in the country past 2008.

Although Iran and Iraq went to war with each other between 1980 and 1988, ties have warmed since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Al-Maliki's visit is a test for Washington, given that it accuses Tehran of backing Shia Muslim militia groups in Iraq. Tehran has denied the allegations.

Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq, said on Thursday that Iran and Iraq were neighbours and had to conduct a relationship.

But he said: "The question is: What kind of relationship is it going to be?"

Al-Maliki's visit is also expected to examine economic issues such as oil exports and the supply of electricity and water, his office said.

Bomb attacks

Meanwhile in Iraq, at least five people were killed in Baghdad in twin bomb attacks, police said.

A suicide bomber rammed into a police patrol mid-afternoon on Saturday in Nisoor Square in the west of the Iraqi capital, killing a civilian and a policeman and wounding five others, police said.

At about the same time of the day, three people were killed and 15 wounded in an explosion across town at a crowded bus stop.

Brigadier-General Nazar Majeed was among those killed in the blast, an officer said on condition of anonymity.


Agencies