The speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbusi, issued a statement late Saturday, April 11, saying he had hosted President Barham Salih at his residence in the city of Fallujah, east of Anbar province,

According to the statement, Halbusi and Saleh discussed the general situation in Iraq and the issue of the formation of a new federal cabinet by Prime Minister- designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Halbusi stressed the need for the next government to adopt reform measures and to present a realistic government program to meet the needs of the people of the country.

During a pre-announced visit this afternoon, Saleh arrived in the city of Fallujah, east of the Sunni province of Anbar in western Iraq. Sources claimed that Prime Minister Al-Maliki accompanied him in the visit.

The Iraqi President officially appointed Al-Kadhimi as the candidate of the Shi'ite parliamentary blocs to form government as the next prime minister in the presence of parliament speaker, the Supreme Judicial Council head and the Federal Court chief last Thursday.

Reporter’s code: 50101