Obama calls on Turkey to withdraw troops from Iraq

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged Turkey to withdraw any unauthorized military forces from Iraq, the White House said.

In his telephone talk with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, Obama reaffirmed the United States' commitment to Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the White House said in a statement.

Following the diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Obama and Abadi agreed on the need for all regional parties to "demonstrate restraint, avoid provocative rhetoric or behavior, and avoid a worsening of sectarian tensions."

The two leaders also discussed their mutual concern over Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a Saudi Shiite cleric, and the attacks on Saudi Arabia's diplomatic facilities in Iran.

They agreed on the importance that all parties maintain diplomatic engagement and dialogue.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran Sunday after angry protesters stormed the Saudi diplomat mission in Tehran, the capital of Iran, to protest the Saudi execution of 47 individuals on terrorism charges, including Nimr al-Nimr.

Over the phone, Obama also congratulated Abadi on Iraqi forces' recent successes in Ramadi and underscored the United States' enduring support for Iraq in its fight against Islamic State the terrorist group.

Source: XINHUA