UPDATE – US secretary of state makes surprise visit to Baghdad

<p>UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY IRAQI PRESIDENCY </p> <p>By Ibrahim Saleh</p> <p>BAGHDAD (AA) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to Baghdad, an Iraqi Foreign Ministry official has told Anadolu Agency.</p> <p>Pompeo is currently on a tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring Washington’s regional allies of continued U.S. support despite a planned U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria. </p> <p>According to the source, who spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to talk to media, Pompeo has already met with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbusi and Iraqi President Barham Salih.</p> <p>During his meeting with the latter, Pompeo reiterated Washington’s keenness “to maintain friendly ties with Iraq at all levels&quot;, according to a statement released subsequently by Salih’s office. </p> <p>The U.S. secretary of state also reportedly stressed at the meeting Washington’s continued commitment to the fight against terrorism.</p> <p>Pompeo also voiced his country's readiness to contribute to the reconstruction of post-Daesh Iraq, especially in areas once occupied by the notorious terrorist group, according to the same statement.</p> <p>Salih, for his part, stressed at the meeting the need for &quot;constructive dialogue between all relevant parties with a view to achieving peace and security&quot;.</p> <p>Iraq, he added, “is keen to build balanced relations with all friendly and allied countries based on mutual respect and the principle of sovereignty”.</p> <p>Pompeo was in Jordan on Tuesday for the first leg of a wider tour of the region that will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.</p> <p>Iraq had not been included in Pompeo’s initial travel itinerary.</p>