Pompeo reaffirms US commitment to Iraq in phone call with PM Allawi

Pompeo reaffirms US commitment to Iraq in phone call with PM Allawi
February 24, 2020, 10:48 am

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo takes questions during a news conference in the Press Briefing Room at the State Department in Washington, US, January 7, 2020. (Photo Reuters)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday urged Iraq’s designated prime minister to protect US troops and meet grievances of a months-long protest movement ahead of a parliamentary confidence vote.

In the first substantive US comment on Mohammad Allawi since he was named on February 1 as a consensus candidate, Pompeo told Allawi by telephone that the United States backed a “strong, sovereign and prosperous” Iraq.

Pompeo “stressed Iraq’s obligation to protect the US and coalition diplomats, forces and facilities,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1231718814385135620

Pompeo spoke to Allawi about “the urgency with which Iraq’s next government must put an end to the killing of protesters, seek justice for those killed and wounded, and address their legitimate grievances,” she said.

Allawi has called a vote of confidence in parliament on Monday ahead of a deadline, after earlier skepticism that he could form and win approval for a government.

source: AFP

Egyptian Doctor, parents face trial for girl’s death after genital cutting WHO experts visit Chinese coronavirus epicenter