Baghdad - City of 'Brotherly' Love In Shia Crescent

"Ahmadinejad calls Iraq 'Brotherly'" from AP reports that the Iranian president - the first one to visit Iraq ever - received a warm reception, sticking it in the face of the United States who has accused Iran of aggressively meddling in Iraq's affairs and endangering US troops. 

The Iranian leader went from Baghdad's airport to a meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who gave him a red-carpet welcome. The two kissed four times on the cheek in the traditional fashion and a band played the two countries' national anthems.

"We had very good talks that were friendly and brotherly. ... We have mutual understandings and views in all fields, and both sides plan to improve relations as much as possible," Ahmadinejad said in a news conference with Talabani at the Iraqi president's residence, located across the Tigris River from the new U.S. Embassy in the fortified Green Zone.