PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI LEFT SUNDAY FOR A VISIT TO BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES TO DISCUSS SECURITY AND HOW THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON HAS AFFECTED HIS COUNTRY, OFFICIALS SAID SUNDAY. «THE PRIME MINISTER WILL MEET SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE TWO COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT MATTERS INCLUDING SECURITY,» AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT RELEASE SAID. «AL-MALIKI WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF ISRAELI RAIDS ON LEBANON AND THEIR NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON THE REGION,» THE STATEMENT ADDED. OTHERS FROM IRAQ'S NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT ACCOMPANYING AL-MALIKI ON HIS TOUR INCLUDE THE MINISTERS OF OIL, ELECTRICITY, TRADE AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE TRIP IS AL-MALIKI'S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, DURING WHICH HE IS EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE BY HIS 2-MONTH-OLD NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED.
