"We have visited the Mississippi in Louisiana to see certain projects along the river, which is the largest in the United States... and has a flow 40 times that of the Tigris, even in the summer," Abdel Latif Rashid told a news conference.

"Several of these projects could be useful for us, especially in the area of flood prevention, water transportation, dams and the deterioration of riverbanks," Rashid said.

The problem of water management is crucial for Iraq, which is home to two huge rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates.

About 2,300 kilometres (1,440 miles) in length, the Euphrates originates in the mountains of Turkey before crossing Syria and into Iraq.

It has been a source of tension for a long time, with Iraq accusing Syria or Turkey of restricting the flow of water with dams and barriers.

Rashid said he had received an invitation from the Syrian authorities and sent an invitation to Turkey to smooth out prior differences under the new interim government, which took power three weeks ago.

Water ministry official Walid Abdul Hamid also highlighted another of Iraq's water worries in the Huweiza marshlands in the south of the country near the Iranian border, which is irrigated by the al-Karkha river from Iran.

"Iran has a project to build a number of barriers and irrigation systems on the al-Karkha river which will really affect the quantity of water that reaches the Huweiza marshes," Hamid told reporters.

But after meeting some of their Iranian counterparts in Geneva recently, Iraqi water officials appeared relaxed.

"This marshland is considered as internationally protected zone," said Hamid. "The Iranians' response was positive and a second set of negotiations is due to take place in the autumn, perhaps in Tehran due to the situation in Iraq."

During his time in power, Saddam Hussein drained much of the marshland in the south of Iraq, which is inhabited by Iraq's majority Shiite community and was used as a place of refuge for those who opposed his iron-fisted rule.

TERRA.WIRE