Iraq sends messages to White House no truth merging Hashd new ministry

Independent politician Abu Mithaq Al-Masari revealed, on Wednesday, the details of General David Petraeus's visit to Iraq and his meeting with Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, while noting that talk about merging the Popular Mobilization Forces into a new ministry is incorrect.

Al-Masari said that "General David Petraeus's visit to Baghdad did not include carrying messages from Washington to Baghdad, but rather he came to Iraq at the invitation of his close friend, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi," indicating that "Petraeus carried positive messages to the White House regarding the possibility of adding more ministers to the cabinet after the Eid holiday."

He added that "the visit did not include dictates regarding merging the Popular Mobilization Forces into a new ministry, and the idea of the Popular Mobilization Forces was not broached at all," noting that "some media outlets published that the general came with certain dictates, conditions, and messages, and this is incorrect."

He mentioned that "Iraq sent messages through Petraeus to Washington as a result of the good relationship with the Prime Minister. Among these messages is improving the image of some political parties before the Oval Office so that we ensure Washington does not object to candidates to complete the ministerial cabinet after the Eid holiday, which is a preemptive measure to complete the government," pointing out that "it is possible for Petraeus to play this role as a result of the relationship he enjoys with the Prime Minister."