The Turkish Prime Minister is preparing to make his first trip to Iraq since the invasion, while Jordan will soon send an ambassador to Baghdad, in the latest signs of a desire in the region to work with the US-backed Iraqi Government.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and Jalal Talabani, the President, during his forthcoming stay, according to Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi Government spokesman. He declined to give exact dates, but said of the trip: “It is highly significant. It is very important for us to diversify our relationship.”

Ankara is looking to work with Iraq to develop the southern oil hub of Basra, where British troops are based, into a free-trade zone. “They are thinking of a railway from Basra, a new line which will facilitate the transit of goods,” said Mr Dabbagh.

Turkey is one of only two regional countries (the other being Iran) still to have a fully-functioning embassy in Baghdad. It is also planning a consulate in Basra.

“We are looking to have a strategic relationship with Turkey. We want to have a relationship that covers all levels: security, economy, political, social, cultural,” Mr Dabbagh said.

Also on the cards will be discussions about continuing raids by Turkey against Kurdish forces who hideout along its mountainous border with northern Iraq.

Other states are also looking to increase their contact with Iraq, as security conditions improve and attention shifts to business opportunities and investment. Bahrain said yesterday that it planned to appoint an ambassador to Iraq, just days after a similar announcement by the United Arab Emirates, a US ally.

Mr Dabbagh said that Jordan's new ambassador would be the first to arrive. Mr Maliki is due to travel to Amman next week to speak to King Abdullah II about Jordan’s embassy plans, he added.

Moves by countries to re-establish embassies in Baghdad will be seen as a growing acceptance of the fledgeling, Shia-led Iraqi Government, something that Washington has been encouraging for a long time.

No Arab state has had a permanent ambassador in the capital since the Egyptian envoy was kidnapped and killed shortly after arriving in 2005.

Oil heavyweight Saudi Arabia has promised to open up a mission, insisting that delays to do so are the result of logistics and safety concerns rather political considerations.

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