Oct. 28, 2008

ERBIL, Iraq, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Kurdish President Massoud Barzani departed the region for Washington at the official invitation of U.S. President George Bush, officials said.

Fuad Hussein, a top adviser to the Kurdish president, said in a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government that Barzani left for Washington Monday evening.

Barzani is scheduled to meet with top congressional leaders as well as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Deputy Iraqi Premier Barham Salih, KRG Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami and others are part of his delegation.

The president also plans to visit several policy centers in Washington. His visit comes amid negotiations over the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement. Several Shiite and Sunni political blocs have stated their opposition to the security agreement, though Kurdish officials largely support the measure.