Al-Maliki, Putin Hold Talks On Military, Oil Cooperation

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Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Moscow - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held talks Friday in Moscow on greater cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of military and oil.

Putin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying 'the negotiations were 'in progress' over military cooperation, while earlier agreeing to help in the building of a 'strong and independent Iraq.'

Russia came out sharply against the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which toppled Saddam Hussein.

In the first visit by an Iraqi prime minister to Moscow since the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein dictatorship, al-Maliki had requested greater investment by Russian firms in Iraq.

The Iraqi premier said the talks served to continue the two countries' 'historically close relations.'

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