US Vice President-elect Joe Biden, on a visit to Baghdad Tuesday ahead of Barack Obama taking over as US president, discussed with the Iraqi prime minister America's troop presence in Iraq. Officials told AFP that Biden met Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after arriving in the Iraqi capital from Afghanistan via Kuwait on Monday and first holding talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.Discussions focused on the future of US forces in Iraq and improving economic relations with the administration of Obama, who will take over on January 20 from President George W. Bush.
"Talks during the meeting reviewed security and political progress ... including establishment of the law and the building of Iraqi armed forces that will take over responsibility after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq," said a statement from Maliki's office.
Under the terms of an agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington last November, US combat forces will remain in the country until the end of 2011, but operate under the authority of the Iraqi government. The agreement requires Iraqi permission for all military operations, and that the fate of all detainees in US custody be decided by the Iraqi justice system.
Biden also expressed support for Iraq's fledgling democratic political process and the continuing steps to restore its sovereignty.