John Key's Iraq trip: Iraqi PM's office breaks embargo

  • 07/10/2015
John Key (L) and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi
John Key (L) and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi

An embargo around John Key's visit to Iraq this week appears to have been broken by the country's Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.

Mr Key was in the country visiting Kiwi Defence Force personnel at the Taji air base, 30km north of Baghdad, who were deployed there on a training mission.

The trip was shrouded in secrecy and an embargo amid security fears Islamic State could find out and plan an attack.

However in breach of that embargo, pictures were posted on Facebook two days ago by the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, showing Dr al-Abadi's reception for Mr Key in Baghdad.

 

The post, which received more than 6300 likes and nearly 90 shares, was monitored by Defence Force staff and the call was made to still visit Taji.

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