Barazani, Odierno discuss preparations for Iraq election

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Kurdistan region president Massoud Barazani received on Monday General Ramyond Odierno, the commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq, and his accompanying delegation in a meeting to discuss legislative elections in Iraq, according to a statement by the Kurdistan Regional Government Kurdistan RegionG). “The meeting also tackled current activities inside the federal Iraqi parliament on the election law, the issue of Kirkuk, the problem of the Fraternal Ninewa and al-Hadbaa lists and the new cabinet lineup of the Kurdistan RegionG,” read the statement as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Odierno briefed Barazani on the steps taken to form a combined force among the U.S. forces, the Kurdistan region’s forces and the Iraqi army to maintain the security of disputed areas, it added. The meeting was attended by the Kurdistan peshmerga forces minister, the Kurdistan RegionG interior minister and senior military officials in the region. The two sides saw eye to eye on the need to have the parliamentary elections in Iraq held as scheduled early next year. AmR (P) 1