Maliki’s visit to Sulaimaniyah deepens split among Iraq's Kurds

Ibrahim Malazada

Jul 25, 2016

Iraq's then Vice President Nuri al-Maliki speaks during a news conference in Baghdad in this file photo taken November 29, 2014. The U.S. and Iran have formed an unlikely tacit alliance behind Iraq's prime minister as he challenges the ruling elite with plans for a non-political cabinet to fight corruption undermining the OPEC nation's economic and political stability. Local calls for Haider al-Abadi's removal -- including one by his predecessor as prime minister al-Maliki -- had been growing as he pursued — Nouri al-Maliki speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, Nov. 29, 2014. — REUTERS/Ahmed Saad

عربي

ERBIL, Iraq — Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the city of Sulaimaniyah on July 18 for a meeting with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Movement for Change (Gorran) in his capacity as the head of the State of Law Coalition and the secretary-general of the Dawa Party. The visit has raised much controversy as to whether it would further deepen internal political differences in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Maliki visited the city to bless the recent alliance between the PUK and Gorran.