WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has called three top Iraqi leaders to call for the formation of a new government of Iraq and encourage their opposition to the Islamic State terror group.
Biden called Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzan on Sunday night and Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi and Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Salim al-Jabouri on Monday.
Biden and al-Abadi discussed military action against Islamic State and the importance of forming a new government in the fight against the terror group that has seized large areas of Iraq and Syria.
Abadi reassured Biden of his intent to quickly form a new government that is inclusive of all segments of Iraqi society and that he is prepared to take concrete steps to addresses the concerns of all of Iraq’s communities.
The U.S. vice president and Barzani agreed on the importance of continuing the cooperation underway between the Kurdish peshmerga and the Iraqi security forces that helped retake the Mosul Dam.
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