Barham Salih renounces British citizenship for Iraq

Iraq's President Barham Saleh has abandoned his British citizenship in compliance with the Iraqi constitution, according to official statement by the Iraqi presidency.

Spokesman of Salih's office Luqman al-Faily said that the legal procedures for his (Barham Salih) waiver of British citizenship have been completed.

Faily added that Salih's renunciation of British citizenship came in compliance with Article 18 of the Iraqi constitution, which stipulates "everyone who assumes a senior, security or sovereign position must abandon any other acquired citizenship," Xinhua reported.

According to the statement, Salih "extends his sincere thanks and appreciation to the United Kingdom, which gave him citizenship during his opposition to the former regime."