Iraqi leaders condemn surprise Trump visit as “strange”

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A group of Iraqi Shiite politicians led by outgoing foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari have condemned US President Donald Trump's surprise visit to Iraq and described it as strange.

The politicians blamed the Iraqi government too for its "weak coordination" with Washington.

"The members of the National Reform Movement are condemning this strange visit by Donald Trump, the US president to the liberated province of Anbar," read a statement from the National Reform Movement headed by Ibrahim al-Jaafari, former Iraq's foreign minister and prime minister on Thursday.

Trump and the First Lady Melania paid a surprise visit to American troops at al-Asad airbase, west of Baghdad for Christmas.

"This is a strange visit and does not look like other official visits to our beloved country which we all defend its sovereignty and democracy," read the statement.

"This visit comes at a time when the US is planning to pull out its troops from Arab Syria."

The Iraqi leaders said they valued the help of their allies, but urged better coordination.

"While we appreciate the military and security efforts of all the friendly countries that supported Iraq in its war against extremism and savagery, we believe that Iraq should increase its coordination with these countries," their statement read.

"We emphasize the importance of respecting the norms, covenants and international treaties between Iraq and any other country."