Iraqi PM visits Iran seeking help to rein in violence

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday sought Iran's help in reining in violence in his war-torn country, meeting with a top ally that the United States accuses of fueling Iraq's turmoil by backing Shi'ite militants.

It was the Iraqi premier's second visit to Teheran in less than a year, coming days after US and Iranian experts held talks in Baghdad on improving Iraq's security.

Al-Maliki and the Shi'ite and Kurdish parties that dominate his government are closely linked to Iran, and the prime minister has struggled to balance those ties with the United States, Teheran's top rival in the region.