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Iraq's President Jalal Talabani
No reason was given for the visit. Talabani's arrival followed a denial by Saud on Saturday that the Saudi government was meddling in the post-election politicking in Iraq in support of former premier Iyad Allawi.
"We do not interfere in (Iraq's) internal affairs," the Saudi-owned pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat quoted the minister as saying in its Sunday edition.
"We support all Iraqis, and Iraq's unity, independence and sovereignty over its territory, and we maintain the same distance from all politicians," he added.
Sunni-led Saudi Arabia is a major regional rival of Shiite-dominated Iran and has been eager to see a reduction in Tehran's influence in Baghdad.
Riyadh has had troubled relations with incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki and has refused to establish a formal diplomatic representation in the Iraqi capital, citing security concerns.
Relations with Allawi, who leads an alliance including Sunni and secular Shiite parties, are believed to be better.
The former premier visited Riyadh for talks with King Abdullah on the eve of the March election in which his Iraqiya bloc went on to secure a narrow lead over Maliki's State of Law Alliance.
Saud played down the significance of that visit saying that Riyadh welcomes visits by any Iraqi political leaders.
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"We do not interfere in (Iraq's) internal affairs," the Saudi-owned pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat quoted the minister as saying in its Sunday edition.
"We support all Iraqis, and Iraq's unity, independence and sovereignty over its territory, and we maintain the same distance from all politicians," he added.
Sunni-led Saudi Arabia is a major regional rival of Shiite-dominated Iran and has been eager to see a reduction in Tehran's influence in Baghdad.
Riyadh has had troubled relations with incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki and has refused to establish a formal diplomatic representation in the Iraqi capital, citing security concerns.
Relations with Allawi, who leads an alliance including Sunni and secular Shiite parties, are believed to be better.
The former premier visited Riyadh for talks with King Abdullah on the eve of the March election in which his Iraqiya bloc went on to secure a narrow lead over Maliki's State of Law Alliance.
Saud played down the significance of that visit saying that Riyadh welcomes visits by any Iraqi political leaders.
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