Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi discussed on Thursday, with the US coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk the mechanisms for the withdrawal of foreign forces from his country.

This came during their meeting in the capital, Baghdad, as part of an unannounced visit by the US official to Iraq, according to a statement by the Iraqi government.

The talks dealt with "coordination and joint cooperation in various fields, and preparations for holding the next round of strategic dialogue between Iraq and the United States."

The two sides discussed "the mechanisms for the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq and the transition to a new phase of strategic cooperation to enhance the security and sovereignty of Iraq."

The two sides also dealt with "developments of the regional situation, stressing the region's need to give precedence to the language of dialogue and calm, and Iraq's growing role in this regard," according to the same statement.