BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s surprise visit to the Kurdistan region of Iraq has drawn barbed criticism as the move is considered a violation of the sovereignty of the Arab country.
"Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, not Erbil,” read a statement by Iraq’s Victory Alliance, after Pence arrived in the capital of semi-autonomous Kurdistan.
Pence met with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the  Iraqi Kurdistan region, in Erbil and also received a classified briefing at the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq's Western Anbar Province.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi criticized Pence for holding talks with Kurdish officials in Erbil instead of federal government officials in Baghdad. 
The statement said Pence’s visit to Erbil was a blow to Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as it showed that the American officials wanted to disrespect and ignore the central government in the capital Baghdad.
It said it was better for the Americans to cancel the trip by Pence if they could not include meetings with officials in Baghdad.
Reports said Pence had spoken on phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi after he landed in Ain al-Assad.
Pence’s visit comes at a critical time for Iraq as the country has just emerged from weeks of massive protests on the streets.
Media reports said Pence had recommended Abdul-Mahdi to "avoid repression” in dealing with the protesters and try to listen to them.
Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump paid a similar unannounced visit to al-Asad air base but did not travel to Baghdad, triggering fierce criticisms from Iraqi officials.
Trump acknowledged security concerns about visiting Iraq, saying it was "pretty sad” that he needed such secrecy to see American troops.