US delegation meets Masum, Halbousi as Iraq MPs prepare to elect new president
“They discussed measures to strengthen … cooperation between both countries and friendly nations and the political and security developments in Iraq and the region were also at the center of talks,” read a statement from Masum’s office.
This will likely be Masum’s final meeting with McGurk, as parliament is scheduled to convene at 6 p.m. on Monday to potentially vote in its next president.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has nominated Fuad Hussein for the post, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is backing its own candidate Barham Salih.
Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, a member of the PUK politburo and widow of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, penned a lukewarm statement on Sunday hinting that the KDP may get the presidency.
Nechirvan Barzani, deputy KDP leader, was in Baghdad on Monday stoking support for Hussein among Iraqi parties. He also met with Hadi al-Amiri, head of Fatih Alliance.
According to the statement from Masum’s office, McGurk stressed continued US support for Iraq.
The US envoy also met with Halbousi.
They “discussed the political and security situations of Iraq and the region, and continued coordination between Iraq and the United States in the counter terror efforts,” Halbousi tweeted.
US commitments to Basra issue
US Ambassador Douglas Silliman was part of the US delegation that met with Masum. They discussed the situation in Basra.
The US decided to close its consulate in Basra last week citing security concerns. The southern Iraq city has been rocked by anti-government protests which saw arson attacks on the Iranian consulate and the offices of Shiite parties and militias.
The US embassy announced USAID is contributing $750,000 to UNICEF to aid the people of Basra who are suffering chronic potable water shortages.
“This contribution will be used to install five pumps, rehabilitate an existing water treatment plant, and maintain water treatment projects which will bring clean and safe water to an estimated 750,000 people,” read the US statement, calling it “an initial step”.
The funds will help to increase the output of R Zero water treatment plant.
“Increasing water scarcity in southern Iraq has led to low river water levels, reduced water flow and an extended saline tongue up the Shatt Al Arab river, which is exacerbated by pollutants that have contaminated Basra’s main source of drinking water. This had led to a sharp increase in gastric intestinal illnesses,” read a UNICEF statement.
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