Iranian president visits Saudi Arabia for regional issues

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday arrived in Saudi capital of Riyadh for talks with Saudi King Abdullah on a string of regional issues, including Iraqi sectarian daily bloodshed.

King Abdullah received Ahmadinejad at the airport, official news agency Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Iranian president will hold talks with Saudi king immediately after his arrival to discuss the means of reducing tensions in the region.

Ahmadinejad met with Saudi king in December 2005, when he participated in an Islamic summit in the holy city of Mecca. But today's visit is the president's first official one to the kingdom.

Ahmadinejad's visit came as the tension between the two regional heavyweights is mounting up due to the Shiite-dominated Islamic Republic's alleged role in backing the Shiite militia in the war-torn Iraq, which was once ruled by Sunni minority.

Source: Xinhua