U.N. secretary-general in Baghdad; meets with Maliki

BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in Baghdad Monday to discuss issues including the status of Syrian refugees who have fled to Iraq, officials said.

Ban met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Their talks were expected to focus on recent operations carried out by the Iraqi army in Anbar province and on the refugees who have fled to Iraq's northern regions to escape the conflict in Syria.

Ban was also scheduled to meet with Usama al-Nujayfi, leader of Iraq's Council of Representatives.