Japan ex-PM on rare Iraq visit

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe signed a partnership accord with Iraq on Wednesday, on a rare visit to the country for a senior leader of the close US ally.

Abe, who was premier from 2006 to 2007, travelled as a special envoy of Prime Minister Taro Aso. He flew to Baghdad after participating in the Global Competitiveness Forum in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

In Baghdad, he met President Jalal Talabani and signed the Japan-Iraq partnership, which is aimed at strengthening the relationship in areas of economy and energy, chief cabinet secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters.

The Iraqi president said in a statement after the meeting: "The visit of the delegation to Iraq is evidence of the interest of Japan to boost bilateral ties."

He also thanked the Japanese government for standing by the Iraqi people and providing assistance during "difficult days".

Japan, officially pacifist since World War II, last month ended a mission flying goods and people into Iraq on behalf of the US-led coalition and the United Nations.

Former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi earlier took the landmark step of sending troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission, the first time since 1945 Tokyo has sent forces to a country where fighting was under way.

Koizumi withdrew the troops before leaving office in 2006.

Japan remains one of the few nations that supported the 2003 invasion whose incumbent leader has never visited Iraq. Koizumi repeatedly said during his tenure that he wanted to go but stayed away due to security concerns.