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3. Iraq PM Candidate Maliki Meets Senior U.S. Diplomat

The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, met with US diplomat Tom Barrack on Friday after refusing to withdraw his nomination despite the US threatening to stop supporting the country if he returns to the post.

Barrack, the US envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, has recently visited Iraq multiple times to meet with senior officials.

Maliki "receives US envoy Tom Barrack," reported the official Iraqi INA press agency.

Last month President Donald Trump intervened in Iraq's affairs by issuing an ultimatum that if Maliki -- a two-time former premier with close ties to Iran -- was named Iraq's next prime minister, the US would no longer help the country.

Earlier this week, Maliki told AFP he will not withdraw his nomination, while also seeking to allay Washington's concerns.

"I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its sovereignty, and its will," Maliki told AFP in an interview.

AFP