Security Topped Agenda at Iraq-Jordan Meeting

Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks with Iraqi leaders and pledged his country's support for reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts.

Abdullah spent most of Monday, Aug. 11, in meetings with top Iraqi officials. Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hailed the visit, saying it was an important step in Iraq's attempt to normalize relations with its neighbor.

The visit opened a new page in relations between the two countries which will help to maintain the stability and security in Iraq and all the region, al-Maliki said.

Jordan hosts about 500,000 Iraqi refugees who have fled violence in their war-torn country, and Amman has estimated the costs of sheltering them so far at more than 1.3 billion euros ($2 billion).