Iraq parliament speaker al-Halbusi arrives in Erbil for talks with Kurdish leaders

ERBIL, Iraq — Mohammed al-Halbusi, leader of the Taqaddum Party and speaker of Iraq's parliament, arrived in Erbil on Thursday at the head of a senior party delegation. Kurdish Democratic Party official Hoshyar Zebari, Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Reber Ahmed and other party officials met al-Halbusi at Erbil International Airport. During the visit, al-Halbusi is expected to meet with Kurdistan Region leader Masoud Barzani, Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The talks are scheduled to focus on the latest political situation in Iraq and broader regional developments. The trip comes amid a political dispute between the two parties. The tensions began after al-Halbusi used a televised interview to praise the Popular Mobilization Forces in disputed areas between Baghdad and Erbil, while accusing the KDP of marginalizing and excluding Arabs in those areas. No further details on the agenda were immediately available.