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Iraq PM Nouri Maliki meets Obama amid US troop pull-out Obama and Maliki back Iraq post-war future
(about 1 hour later)
Iraq's prime minister is in Washington for talks on a new relationship with the US as American troops prepare to complete their withdrawal. President Barack Obama has said US and Iraq will enjoy a "normal relationship between sovereign nations" after US troops leave at the end of 2011.
Nouri Maliki was meeting President Barack Obama, with Iraq's foreign minister also meeting Hillary Clinton. He met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Washington for talks on Iraq's future as American troops prepare to complete their withdrawal.
The visit comes as Iraq prepares to take responsibility for its security as US forces leave after eight years. Mr Obama confirmed no bases or troops would remain in the country next year.
Talks are expected to include whether US troops can return to assist Iraqi forces, and the fate of a US detainee. "Those days are over", Mr Obama said, adding that Iraq's sovereignty should be respected.
US troops are due to complete their pullout by the end of the year, and no agreement has been reached that will allow American forces to return if required. The Americans - and some Iraqis - are worried about an upsurge of Iranian influence, and perhaps a resurgence of the country's Shia militias, once the US troops have gone.
Mr Maliki will also meet Vice-President Joe Biden and US lawmakers for talks which will cover issues relating to security, energy, education and justice, the White House said. Both Mr Obama and Mr Maliki expressed their expectation that the countries would continue to have a broad relationship and an "equal partnership".
It is Mr Maliki's third visit to the US since he came to power in 2006. He will hold private talks with Mr Obama and a public news conference, as well as visiting Arlington National Cemetery to pay respects to those killed in action. "As we end this war, and Iraq looks to the future, the Iraqi people must know you do not stand alone," Mr Obama told Mr Maliki.
On Wednesday, to mark the pullout, Mr Obama will address returning soldiers at a base in North Carolina. Mr Maliki said the US withdrawal "indicates success, not like others have said" and that the two countries have completed "the first page of constructive co-operation".
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the withdrawal is a momentous change, but it does not mean a complete end to US influence. Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari is also in Washington, meeting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
About 150 military trainers and several hundred private contractors are working with the Iraqi forces. Training needed
The high-level visit comes as Iraq prepares to take responsibility for its security as US forces leave after eight years.
Speaking alongside Mr Obama at a White House news conference, Mr Maliki appeared confident that the handover of security responsibility to Iraq has been successful so far.
"Nobody imagined we would succeed in defeating terrorism and al-Qaeda", he said.
The question of the US arming Iraq's military remains, with Mr Maliki saying his government has "raised the issue".
Mr Obama indicated he hoped the US would carry out joint military exercises with Iraq, but said first: "We've got to train their pilots". The US has sold Iraq F-16s fighter jets and Mr Obama noted that Iraq needs an effective Iraqi air force.
Talks were expected to include whether US troops can return to assist Iraqi forces, and the fate of a US detainee, but both leaders skirted the issue, saying only that the US military operation was coming to an end.
Troops are due to complete their pullout by the end of the year, and no agreement has been reached that will allow American forces to return if required.
The US will retain influence, with a strong diplomatic presence and 150 military trainers in Iraq.
While in Washington, Mr Maliki will also meet Vice-President Joe Biden and US lawmakers for talks which will cover issues relating to security, energy, education and justice, the White House said.
It is Mr Maliki's third visit to the US since he came to power in 2006.
Strategic partnershipStrategic partnership
Iraqi leaders admit they still need help to meet any threat to their borders and airspace.Iraqi leaders admit they still need help to meet any threat to their borders and airspace.
So some kind of continuing strategic relationship is envisaged - but its exact nature is the subject of Mr Maliki's discussions in Washington, our correspondent says. It is a delicate issue for the Shia-dominated government of Mr Maliki, who essentially owes his position to Iran's support, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
It is a delicate issue for the Shia-dominated government of Mr Maliki, who essentially owes his position to Iran's support, our correspondent adds. Although a small number of US advisers and trainers will remain, negotiations over a permanent legal deal to allow American troops to return stalled before Mr Obama announced plans for the final pullout
He says the Americans - and some Iraqis - are worried about an upsurge of Iranian influence, and perhaps a resurgence of the Shia militias, once the US troops have gone.
Although a small number of US advisers and trainers will remain, negotiations over a permanent legal deal to allow American troops to return stalled before Mr Obama announced plans for the final pullou
The Pentagon wanted legal assurance that US troops would not face prosecution under Iraqi law, something Baghdad was unable to provide.The Pentagon wanted legal assurance that US troops would not face prosecution under Iraqi law, something Baghdad was unable to provide.
Meanwhile, Nato has also decided to withdraw its Iraq training mission by the end of the year after Baghdad refused to give it legal immunity.Meanwhile, Nato has also decided to withdraw its Iraq training mission by the end of the year after Baghdad refused to give it legal immunity.
In an echo of the US-Iraq negotiations, Nato was unable to agree a deal with Iraqi officials despite several weeks of "robust negotiations", Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.In an echo of the US-Iraq negotiations, Nato was unable to agree a deal with Iraqi officials despite several weeks of "robust negotiations", Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
Prisoner dilemmaPrisoner dilemma
The Obama-Maliki talks are also expected to include discussions on how to deal with the final detainee in US custody in Iraq. The Obama-Maliki talks were also expected to include discussions on how to deal with the final detainee in US custody in Iraq.
According to a report in the New York Times, no decision has yet been taken on the future of Ali Musa Daqduq, a Lebanese suspected of being an operative for the Shia militia group Hezbollah.According to a report in the New York Times, no decision has yet been taken on the future of Ali Musa Daqduq, a Lebanese suspected of being an operative for the Shia militia group Hezbollah.
The US accuses him of orchestrating a Shia militia raid in 2007 that led to the deaths of five US soldiers.The US accuses him of orchestrating a Shia militia raid in 2007 that led to the deaths of five US soldiers.
The 31 December pullout deadline means the US is facing the decision about whether to hand him over to Iraqi custody or remove him from the country and continue holding him elsewhere.The 31 December pullout deadline means the US is facing the decision about whether to hand him over to Iraqi custody or remove him from the country and continue holding him elsewhere.
"There are serious and ongoing deliberations about how to handle this individual to best protect US service members and broader US interests," Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told the newspaper.