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Iraq’s Kurdish parties struggle to unite amid deep divisions

The main parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have met at a high level amidst divisions and difficulties to form the government many months after the elections.

A picture taken on Feb. 14, 2019, shows Kurdistan's regional parliament in Erbil.
A picture taken on Feb. 14, 2019, shows Kurdistan's regional parliament in Erbil. — SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images

ERBIL, Iraq — As dust and sandstorms color the sky orange and drone strikes by militias and neighboring nations continue, Kurdistan Region of Iraq leaders are trying to find a way to overcome internal political disaccord.

A visit by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to the stronghold of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Sulaimaniyah, on May 21 was an attempt at solving this and other issues. The meeting was followed by another high-ranking meeting in Erbil today to follow up on the first meeting.

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