Iraqi minister meets provincial leaders

TIKRIT, Iraq, March 6 (UPI) -- The Iraqi deputy prime minister met with provincial leaders in the seven northern Iraqi provinces to discuss reconstruction issues at a U.S.-led conference.

The meeting near Tikrit was the third installment of the ongoing United and Strong conferences bringing central government officials together with provincial leaders.

The United and Strong campaign allows Iraqi officials and U.S. military overseers to "consolidate and focus issues (that) encompass Iraq's northern provinces (and deliver them) to Iraq's central government," the U.S military said.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told the provincial leaders Baghdad would examine the issues presented by the provincial leaders, but urged them to meet their obligations to coordinate with Baghdad as well, Multi-National Division-North said.

The conference focused on agriculture, investments and other reconstruction issues.