Iraq's Maliki in Syria to mend strained ties

The leaders of Iraq and Syria met on Wednesday for the first time since withdrawing envoys from each other's capitals last year, as Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki seeks regional support to remain in power.

Six months after an inconclusive election, Maliki is trying to build a coalition government that will keep him in office as prime minister. He visited Damascus on Wednesday and also plans to travel to Jordan and Turkey later this month.

Maliki's mission to Damascus was part of a series of visits "to different Arab capitals" in response to invitations which he has received, his office said in a statement