Iraqi parliament speaker condemns U.S. air strike -statement

Iraq's Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi condemned on Friday a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iran's most powerful general and a top Iraqi Shi'ite militia commander as a breach of sovereignty.

"Yesterday's targeting of a military commander in Iraq's armed forces near Baghdad international airport is a flagrant breach of sovereignty and violation of international agreements," he said in a statement.

"Iraq must avoid becoming a battlefield or aside in any regional or international conflict," he added. Halbousi, who as a speaker is Iraq's top Sunni Arab politician, called on the government to take all steps needed to stop such attacks.