Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari (C) welcomes Jean-Yves Le Drian (R) and French Defence Minister Florence Parly (2nd-L). Photo: AFPFrance is to grant a €420 million loan to Iraq whose economy has been weakened by low oil prices and its fight against jihadists, a French foreign ministry official announced on Saturday. Visiting Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad that the €420 million ($512-million) would be released before the end of 2017, the official told AFP. Le Drian also handed Abadi an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Paris. France is a key member of the US-led coalition that has been battling Isis in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

Source: The Local August 26, 2017 13:52 UTC