US President George W. Bush looks forward to welcoming Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja'afari on Friday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said here on Thursday.

"Prime Minister Ja'afari is a courageous leader who is committed to building a free and democratic future for Iraq and committed to building a better future for the Iraqi people," McClellan said.

McClellan attached importance to the scheduled meeting, saying it comes "at a critical time in Iraq's historic transformation."

The two leaders will be talking about "challenges that lie ahead," McClellan said, noting "Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism," but he did not elaborate.

Ja'afari took the Iraqi premiership after Iraqi lawmakers approved a list of 36-member new cabinet in late April.

On next Tuesday, the United States and Iraq will mark the one- year anniversary since the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq after the downfall of the Saddam regime.

Ja'afari, who arrived here Wednesday, met at the White House with US Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Steve Hadley on Thursday, McClellan said.

He is scheduled to be meeting with the Senate and House leadership at the Capitol during his stay in the US, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua