Islamic leaders wrap up Iraq tour

BAGHDAD, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Leaders of the Organization of the Islamic Conference signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi government concerning Islamic unity, officials said.

Habib Kaabachi, the organization's political affairs director, signed the MOU in Baghdad with Talal Hashim al-Khudairee of the Iraqi Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Further talks with OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and top officials in the Iraqi government included discussions on human rights and social justice in line with a variety of principles reached by the Arab community concerning Iraq, the organization said.

Ihsanoglu had met earlier with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in the Shiite holy city of Najaf to discuss forming stronger ties between Iraq and the Islamic world.

The OIC leader also met with the influential Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

Officials with the Islamic Development Bank who joined the OIC also pledged some $500 million for reconstruction projects in Iraq.

OIC and Baghdad agreed to establish quarterly meetings to discuss the progress of joint projects and agreements.