Barzani met with Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Islamic State (IS) Brett McGurk, Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman, and Consul General Steven Fagin in Erbil, a statement on the official KRG website said.

The group reportedly discussed a range of topics including relations between Baghdad and Erbil, the political impasse over how to fill the remaining spots in Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi’s cabinet, and the latest party talks to form the KRG cabinet, NRT reported.

The Kurdistan parliamentary elections took place on September 30, but only halting progress has been made so far towards forming a new government.

The visit by McGurk may be a sign of increased US engagement in the process, given his close relationship with many KRG officials.

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