Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Prime Minister ,Adel Abdul Mahdi has vowed to preserve the lives of protesters, U.S. Vice President ,Mike Pence said on Saturday.

Pence told reporters after a meeting with officials in the capital Erbil that he talked with Abdul-Mahdi about the unrest, adding that Abdul-Mahdi pledged to him that Iraq is working to avoid violence.

He added that the Iraqi authorities will respect peaceful protesters, while affirming respect for the sovereignty of Iraq, expressed concern about Iranian influence.