Hollande arrives in Iraq to visit French troops

Baghdad : French President Francois Hollande arrived in Baghdad Monday on an official visit to meet the French forces deployed in Iraq. Hollande will discuss the war against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group with Iraqi authorities as well as the relations between the two countries, a source from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry told Efe news. Hollande will also meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, President Fuad Masum and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Juburi later on Monday. France is part of the US-led international coalitions fight against IS, contributing about 500 soldiers and some 30 Rafale aircraft. The French Defence Ministry said its aircraft have destroyed more than 1,700 targets since joining the coalition.-Agency