U.S. urges cooperation after Kurdish leader's resignation

A still image taken from a video shows Kurdish President Masoud Barzani giving a televised speech in Erbil, Iraq, October 29, 2017. KURDISTAN 24 TV via REUTERS TV

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged the Iraqi government and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) institutions to resolve their issues after Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said he would resign later this week.

"We call on all Kurdish parties to support the KRG as it works to resolve pending issues over the remainder of its term and prepare for elections in 2018," the U.S. State Department said in a statement commending Barzani's decision and urging Iraq and the KRG "to work urgently to resolve pending issues under the Iraqi constitution."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)