Abadi representative attends funeral of KRG PM's brother

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - Secretary General of the Iraqi Council of Ministers Mehdi al-Allaq traveled to the town of Pirmam in Erbil on Thursday to attend the funeral of the brother of the Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Dozens of high-level officials from across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq have come to pay their respects to Dilovan Idris Barzani since his unexpected death at age 51 on Monday following a heart attack.

When asked about current relations between Erbil and Baghdad, al-Allaq said that talks between the two sides are continuing, and their relations "developing."

Ties between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraq's federal government deteriorated considerably following the Sep. 25 referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region.

Al-Aalak, who represents Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi in his visit to Erbil, said Baghdad expects the talks to lead to "positive points" for both sides.

Dilovan Barzani was born in 1966 in the Barzan area and was the twin brother of Prime Minister Barzani.

He held no official position but was considered a prominent social figure, taking part in events across the Kurdistan Region as a representative for the Kurdish Prime Minister.

The funeral and mourning period of three days will conclude late Thursday.