CRI听力:Iraq, Canada Discuss Fight against IS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Baghdad.

The two leaders discussed issues surrounding Canada's military aid to help Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants.

Abadi says that Iraqi forces have retaken large parts of the territories to the east and north of the capital, which were seized by IS militants last summer.

"The Islamic State is retreating and it is weak now. Thank God we have liberated all the territories of Diyala province and most of the territories of Salahuddin province, and Baghdad today has become safer than at any other time."

Stephen Harper , for its part, says that the Canadian forces in Iraq would advise and assist Iraqi troops but not engage in direct combat.

Canada has around 70 special forces operating in northern Iraq and has also provided six jets to take part in US-led bombing missions against Islamic State.

Harper flew to Erbil after the meeting with Abadi for talks with Kurdish President Massoud Barzani and other Kurdish officials.

Canada is part of the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group, and has a military base in Khazer, west of Erbil.