UN chief in Baghdad to show support in fighting against IS

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday paid an official visit here, aiming at showing the international community's support to the Iraqi government in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) extremist militant group.

During his visit, Ban met with Iraqi President Fuad Masoum and "called to respect the interests of the people in the areas that are freed from the (IS) terrorism, rebuild and stabilize their areas in a way that ensures the rule of law, as well as bringing those who were responsible for violating the human rights to justice," according to a statement from the presidency office.

Ban Ki-moon stressed that the "international community shows solidarity and support with Iraq against terrorism represented by the Daash (IS militant group)," the presidency statement said.

The UN chief also confirmed the UN's interest in supporting Iraq when facing the crisis of refugees by urging the international community to contribute to alleviating their suffering, it said.

For his part, Masoum "confirmed Iraq's determination to eliminate terrorism in the country and praised the role of the international coalition in support of the Iraqi forces," according to the statement.

He also said that Iraq insists to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation that includes all Iraqis except for terrorists, and pledged to respect the interests of the components of the Iraqi people as well.

Ban also met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who confirmed to the visiting top UN official that the Iraqi security forces are winning the battles with IS militants and soon will free Salahudin province and then the Anbar province and northern city of Mosul.

"We're getting into the final battles in Salahudin and victory is in our hands and soon we will announce the final victory in this province and then Anbar and Mosul (provinces) will follow," a statement by Abadi's office quoted him as saying.

The two leaders also discussed the political and security situations in Iraq and the region, as well as reviewing the UN efforts to assist Iraq, it added.

In addition, Ban paid a visit to the Iraqi parliament in the Green Zone in central Baghdad and met with the parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri and the heads of parliamentary political blocs, discussing with them the situations in Iraq and the region, according the state-run television of Iraqiya.

Earlier in the day, the UN chief arrived in Baghdad amid security deterioration since last June, when bloody clashes broke out between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State (IS) militants, which took control of the country's northern city of Mosul and later seized swathes of territories in Nineveh and other predominantly Sunni provinces. Enditem