US and Iraqi leaders meet in Washington

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki has met US President Barack Obama in Washington, three weeks after US troops withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities.

Both countries are keen to show their relationship has moved into a new phase based on non-military co-operation. “I reiterated my belief that Iraq will be more secure and more successful if there is a place for all Iraqi citizens to thrive, including all of Iraq’s ethinc and religious groups. That is why America continues to support all efforts to integrate all Iraqis into Iraq’s government and security forces,” said Obama. Maliki’s Shiite Muslim-led government is courting foreign investors to help resurrect an economy ground down by decades of sanctions, neglect and war. “Both sides are working to put together an investment conference in October of this year, that will combine all foreign investors and all the companies that would like to work in Iraq,” said al-Maliki. Maliki has also urged the UN to repeal measures requiring Baghdad to pay billions of euros in compensation for invading Kuwait in 1990. His government depends on oil revenues and has been forced to cut spending plans three times already this year due to the sharp drop in prices.

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