BAGHDAD, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday paid an unannounced visit to Iraq as anti-government protesters in the country are demanding comprehensive reform, end of corruption, jobs and improved public services.
A statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said Pence's visit was agreed by the two sides and he visited the U.S. forces at Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq's western province of Anbar.
During a phone call between Abdul Mahdi and Pence at around 12:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) on Saturday, the two discussed "strengthening relations between the two countries and prospects for cooperation" as well as "developments in Iraq and the government's reform measures in response to the demands of the demonstrators," according to the statement.
It said Pence is scheduled to visit the city of Erbil, capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, to meet with the Kurdish top officials.
Earlier in the day, the Iraqi NINA news agency reported that Pence's visit to Iraq covered the capital Baghdad, but an official statement later denied the report.
The U.S. vice president's visit came at a time when Iraq is witnessing anti-government protests that are demanding comprehensive reform of the political system and early elections.
More than 5,000 U.S. troops have deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces during the battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants, mainly providing training and advice to the Iraqi forces.
The troops were part of the U.S.-led international coalition that has been conducting air raids against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria.
