THE Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, will visit Australia this month to express gratitude for Australian efforts in toppling Saddam Hussein and to discuss trade opportunities in Iraq.

The trip follows an invitation from Kevin Rudd, but Mr Maliki will have to tread a delicate path as he seeks to praise Australia's contribution to a war that Labor - and most Australians - did not support.

The Prime Minister pledged before last year's election to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, though he insisted this was primarily to concentrate on engagements closer to Australia.

However, after the troops officially withdrew in June, Mr Rudd issued a stinging critique of the war, telling Parliament that each of the arguments used to justify the invasion was wrong.

Mr Maliki, who became Prime Minister two years ago, is expected to visit for about four days and is scheduled to appear with Mr Rudd at a dinner in Parliament House on October 23. He is due to leave on October 26.

The visit is likely to focus on possible investment and trade opportunities, including the involvement of Australian companies in oil projects, construction and agriculture.

It will also look at the disbursement of aid in the wake of Mr Rudd's pledge - announced in Washington in March - of a further $165 million in assistance.

Mr Maliki's visit is understood to be the first by an Iraqi Prime Minister.

Saddam, who was president from 1979 until the US-led invasion of 2003, rarely left the country.

Since his downfall, there have been several high-profile visitors, including Jalal Talabani - who was then a member of the Interim Iraq Governing Council and is now the President - as well as the ministers for foreign affairs, oil and agriculture.

Mr Rudd's office would not comment on the visit yesterday.