Hashemi was expected to meet Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and other senior officials during his visit, sources said.

Siniora visited Baghdad in August for talks with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki on boosting oil exports and boosting bilateral ties.

"Al-Maliki and Siniora discussed a number of important issues during their meeting today, mainly supplying Lebanon with Iraqi crude oil and ways to foster bilateral relations," government official, Yassin Majied said at the time.

Siniora also met Tareq al-Hashemi to discuss political and economic issues during his August visit. -AKI