SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki will pay an official visit to Iraq on Sunday, according to the country’s ambassador.
Palestinian ambassador to Iraq Ahmed Aql told Sabah newspaper that Maliki would meet senior Iraqi officials, including President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
“Maliki visits Iraq as the representative of the Palestinian president,” the ambassador said.
The Palestinian official will discuss strengthening relations between Iraq and Palestine and will sign an “agreement of joint coordination”, Aql told Sabah newspaper.
Spokesman of Iraq’s foreign ministry Ahmed al-Sahhaf also said Maliki would hold talks with his Iraqi counterpart and the three presidencies during his visit.
On May 13, the Iraqi premier spoke by phone with Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas to show Iraq’s support for the Palestinian government and people.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip held on Saturday as Egyptian mediators pressed on with talks with the two sides on securing longer-term calm, officials said.
As many as 248 people including 66 children were killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with more than 1,900 wounded.
The Israeli military said an Israeli soldier had been killed as well as 12 civilians, including two children. Hundreds were treated for injuries after rocket salvoes caused panic and sent people as far away as Tel Aviv rushing into shelters.
