SBaghdad - Lebanese Sunni Muslim politician Saad Hariri met Thursday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the first time a Lebanese politician has visited Iraq since the US invasion five years ago.

According to the Aswat al-Iraq news agency, the Shiite Iraqi leader congratulated Hariri on the formation of a government of national unity in Beirut in which Sunnis and Shiites, including members of the militant movements Hezbollah and Amal.

Both Iraq and Lebanon similarly face sectarian strife between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

The government crisis in Beirut led to several bloody clashes between opposition Shiites and supporters of Hariri, who is head of the former ruling majority.

Al-Maliki's government and the United States have increased pressure on Arab heads of state and government to renew diplomatic contacts with Iraq. (dpa)