Maliki back in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has returned to Baghdad, wrapping up a visit to Turkey, where he met with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a presidential source said on Thursday. “Maliki arrived last night in Baghdad following a short visit to Ankara, the first after signing the troop withdrawal agreement. The premier was accompanied by the minister of transport, Amer Abdeljabbar; the minister of trade, Abdelfallah al-Sudani; and the minister of electricity, Kareem Waheed,” the source told IraqiNews.com. “Several issues, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and border disputes, were raised during the visit,” the source noted. “Maliki has put off his scheduled visit to Iran,” the source added, providing no information about the reasons behind the postponement. SS (P) 1