Berri Begins Official Visit to Iraq

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri arrived Sunday in Baghdad on an official visit, at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed al-Halbousi, who cut short a foreign trip in order to receive him, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

Berri is scheduled to meet with the country’s top officials and with Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival, the Speaker said he was very pleased to return to Iraq on another visit, wishing prosperity for the country “after the expulsion of Daesh and the victory over terrorism.”

Iraqi Deputy Speaker Hassan al-Kaabi later threw a lunch banquet in honor of Berri and the accompanying delegation in the presence of a number of Iraqi MPs and officials.