UN-AL envoy arrives in Baghdad for Syria talks

BAGHDAD - UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in Baghdad on Monday to hold talks with Iraqi leaders about the Syrian crisis, an official television reported.

"The United Nations and Arab League Special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has arrived in Baghdad coming from Tehran," the state-run Iraqia channel said.

Brahimi's visit comes as part of his second regional tour in a bid to mediate a cease-fire between the Syrian government and armed rebels in the 19-month conflict in the Middle East country.

Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister, was appointed special representative by the United Nations and Arab League to replace Kofi Annan in continuous international efforts to seek political solution to the Syrian crisis.