Iraqi PM Thankes Japan for Help

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday thanked Japan for its assistance to Baghdad, on the first full day of a trip to Tokyo focused on developing the war-torn country's oil industry.

Maliki opened his visit by attending a ceremonial audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at their palace in central Tokyo. He then started a series of meetings to culminate in a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"The reason I have come here is to express thanks for Japan's contributions to Iraq," Maliki told reporters as he started a meeting with Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma.

Maliki was making his first visit to Japan and South Korea, two key economic partners of Iraq which both sent troops after the US-led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein four years ago.