Obama presses Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
US: President Barack Obama pressed Iraqi leaders Thursday to end a
post-election deadlock and form a new government without further delay
as the top US commander in Iraq told him a troop drawdown was running
ahead of schedule.
Iraqi parties have been unable to agree on a governing coalition
since a March election that produced no clear winner. Prolonged
uncertainty could expose Iraq to a risky power vacuum as it struggles to
contain a stubborn insurgency.
Obama met U.S. Iraq ambassador Chris Hill and top commander General
Ray Odierno to discuss Iraq's political future and progress on efforts
to reduce U.S. troop levels to 50,000 and end their combat role in the
country by the end of August. "The president shared his view that it is
time for Iraq's leaders to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities and form a government without delay," the White House
said.
Vice President Joe Biden, who visited Baghdad earlier this month,
reinforced that message in phone calls on Thursday to incumbent Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former premier Iyad Allawi, the top
vote-getter in the March 7 ballot.WASHINGTON, Friday, Reuters
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