Canadian Prime minister Stephen Harper surprise visit to Iraq

Canadian Prime minister Stephen Harper has paid a surprise visit to Iraq, claiming to support Baghdad in its fight against terrorism.
Harper, who arrived in Iraq on Saturday, held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abadi in the capital, Baghdad, during which the two officials discussed Iraq’s war against the ISIL terrorists as well as international support for Iraq in the anti-terror campaign, Abadi’s office said.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) meets with his Iraqi counterpart Haidar al-Abadi at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad, on May 2, 2015. ©AP
“Prime Minister al-Abadi and I had productive discussions today ... to address the humanitarian and development needs Iraq is facing,” the Canadian premier said in a statement.

This file photo shows ISIL militants in an unknown location in Iraq. 

The Iraqi premier, for his part, called on the international community to contribute to his country's fight against extremism.
He warned that "terrorism is not only threatening Iraq, but the region and the whole world."
Canada has deployed nearly 600 military troops to Iraq as part of a US-led so-called coalition to allegedly aid the Arab country in the battle against the ISIL.
The ISIL Takfiri terrorist group, with members from several Western countries, controls swathes of land in Iraq.
Over the past months, the Iraqi army has launched large-scale operations to flush Takfiri out of the country.