WASHINGTON, June 5: President George Bush has invited the new Iraqi President Ghazi Al Yawar to attend next week's G-8 summit, the White House announced on Saturday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will also attend the summit, being held at Sea Island, Georgia from June 8 to 10. Several other Arab and Muslim leaders will also attend the summit.

"President Bush will take this opportunity to reaffirm with President Al Yawar his support for Iraq's efforts to realize its potential to be a free, democratic, secure, and prosperous country," the White House said.

President Bush will also encourage the leaders of the G-8 nations to continue their support of this vision, the statement said.

Iraq is expected to dominate this meeting of the world's eight most industrialized nations that include Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Italy, the United States, Russia and Japan.

G8 spokesman Barry Bennett said Ghazi Al Yawar will attend at least a luncheon meeting of the leaders of the eight leading industrial nations with leaders of Middle East countries.

Mr Al Yawar's presence at G8 will be a vivid symbol of the White House's hopes to promote its agenda for Iraq and the Middle East in the industrialized world.

Commenting on his decision to invite non-member, Arab and Muslim states to the summit, President Bush said: "We will talk about Iraq ... in the context of the spread of democracy."

"The countries that will be there will be sharing their experiences with democratic institutions in the Muslim world. And that will also serve as a reminder to the people of Iraq that they can succeed," he added.

Observers in Washington say that by presenting Mr Al Yawar at the summit the Bush administration is trying to tell the world that despite troubles it is following its plan for Iraq, which started with the removal of Saddam Hussein and will culminate at the creation of a democratic and pro-US Iraq.

Mr Al Yawar is expected to seek more international help for Iraqi reconstruction.