Britain's May on surprise visit to Baghdad: Iraqi official

British Prime Minister Theresa May paid a surprise visit today to Baghdad where she met her Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abadi, his office said.

"Mr Abadi welcomed the British prime minister and her delegation," Abadi's press secretary Haidar Hamada told AFP.

May's visit came after Iraqi forces backed by an international coalition including Britain ousted the Islamic State group from swathes of Iraq it had controlled since 2014.

Hamada said May had confirmed Britain's "great support for Iraq and its admiration for Iraqi victories and great courage" in the battle against IS.

The meeting also came two months after Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted for independence in a referendum bitterly contested by Baghdad.
 

Hamada said the British premier had "reiterated her support for the unity of Iraq".

The leaders also discussed "efforts to restore stability and economic cooperation while respecting the unity of Iraq and its constitution," he added.