Adil Abdul-Mahdi

Iraq seeks to enhance bilateral relations in all fields with Turkey, the country's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said on May 9.

The newly elected prime minister met with Fatih Yıldız, Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad, the Iraqi Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Turkey voiced support April 22 for the formation of a stable government in Iraq as efforts toward that end continued in the capital Baghdad. 

"We support the formation of a stable government in our brotherly neighbor Iraq, particularly at a time when the whole world is facing dire difficulties," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

The death toll from anti-government protests in Iraq has risen to 556, Iraq's Independent High Commission for Human Rights said on Feb. 2.

A statement from the press office of Ali al-Bayati, a representative of the commission, said those who doubt the figure should reveal their evidence.

Iraq's caretaker prime minister asked Washington to work out a road map for an American troop withdrawal, but the U.S. State Department on Jan. 10 bluntly rejected the request, saying the two sides should instead talk about how to "recommit" to their partnership.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Nov. 9 that political parties had "made mistakes" in their running of the country, promising electoral reform and other measures as he sought to bring an end to months of protests.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has ordered the formation of an investigation panel into deadly protests that left dozens dead and injured thousands this month. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on oCT. 9 announced a cabinet reshuffle, declared three days of national mourning and said those who shot protesters would be punished as he sought to quell anti-government unrest that has roiled Iraq for days.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abd Al-Mahdi on Sept. 11 met Turkey's Ambassador to Baghdad Fatih Yıldiz to discuss bilateral relations, according to an Iraqi official statement.       

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi will pay a visit to Turkey and meet with President Tayyip Erdoğan on May 15.

Iraq's parliament on Oct. 2 elected as president Kurdish politician Barham Salih, who immediately named Shi'ite Adel Abdul Mahdi prime minister-designate, ending months of deadlock after an inconclusive national election in May.