Lebanon and Iraq are expected to discuss oil and trade during a visit by Premier Fouad Saniora to Baghdad, al-Mustaqbal daily reported Monday.

It said Saniora has stressed that he would discuss soon with Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, ways to benefit from Iraq's oil and to improve trade between the two countries.

The newspaper also quoted him as saying that "Iraq is an Arab country and it is important to open up to it."

Saniora was in Egypt on Saturday where he met with President Husni Mubarak.

He said Egypt would supply his energy-starved country with electricity and gas.

Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to power supply.

The country suffers daily power outages, including in Beirut.

Al-Liwa daily quoted sources from the delegation to Egypt as saying that Mubarak stressed to Saniora the need to "upgrade the path of stability" in the country.

Meanwhile, the prime minister's advisor, Aref al-Abd, denied accusations in a phone call with ANB TV network that Saniora's visit to Egypt was against the constitution.

Al-Abd's comment came after some ministers complained that the energy issue was a cover up for a political agenda.

He also denied that Saniora was planning to meet with Saudi King Abdullah during his visit to Egypt.