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Iraq asks Trump administration to 'reconsider' travel ban

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has asked the United States to reconsider the travel ban on its citizens, the foreign ministry said on Monday, taking a more diplomatic line than the Iraqi parliament which had demanded the government "retaliate". "It is necessary that the new American administration reconsider this wrong decision," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Noting their cooperation in fighting the Islamic State group, the statement added: "We affirm Iraq's desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries." By executive order on Friday, President Donald Trump banned U.S. entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – and temporarily halted the admission of refugees. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)