Chancellor Barzani receives UK Ambassador to Iraq for talks in Kurdistan

The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region and Head of Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani received the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Iraq, Frank Baker, for talks on bolstering political and economic relations between the two sides and spoke in areas of military and humanitarian aid.

Mr Barzani emphasised on the vitality of joint-military action in the war against Islamic State terrorists that Kurdish Peshmerga forces are currently battling on the ground, "on behalf of the free-world," and he requested more direct armament to support Peshmerga effectively wiping out ISIS extremists.

Support for the Peshmerga should be gradually stepped up, provided the army was willing to work with other groups fighting Islamic State and follow a "reform agenda".

For his part, Mr Baker reiterated the support of the UK government to the Kurdistan Region during this crucial stage which it is engaged in a war. The UK is already providing the Kurdish Peshmerga with equipment and training.

British ministers have been frequent visitors to the region in recent times, former foreign secretary William Hague holding talks with the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani in Erbil last July