...

President Talabani returns to Iraq after months of medical treatment

Arab World Materials 19 July 2014 23:38 (UTC +04:00)
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani returned from months of treatment abroad, with his crisis-hit country on the brink of breakup, Tehran Times reported.
President Talabani returns to Iraq after months of medical treatment

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani returned from months of treatment abroad, with his crisis-hit country on the brink of breakup, Tehran Times reported.

"President Talabani is coming home on Saturday July 19 after receiving successful health treatment in brotherly Germany," his Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said, according to AFP.

The PUK said Talabani, who arrived in an airport in his Kurdish fiefdom of Sulaimaniyah, would resume his duties as head of state, in a statement also confirmed by his son Qubad.

While most of Iraq's political power lies with the prime minister's office, the 80-year-old Talabani was long seen as a key mediator between Iraq's feuding factions.

But many observers now cast him off as a spent force, both physically and politically, with his long-time rival Massud Barzani presiding over the destiny of the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government.

Latest

Latest