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US Vice President Joe Biden walks out of a building at a US military base near Baghdad - Source: Reuters -
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US Vice President Joe Biden made a previously unannounced visit
to Baghdad to meet Iraqi leaders and US military commanders just
days after US troops withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities.
His visit comes at a critical time in US-Iraqi relations.
The Obama administration is putting more pressure on Sunni,
Shiite and Kurdish leaders to resolve long-standing disputes over
oil revenues and regional boundaries that have stalled political
reconciliation.
Biden said he was optimistic about Iraq's future but much work
remained.
Biden's three-day visit comes after President Barack Obama
appointed him to help coordinate Iraq policy as US officials lay
the groundwork for a full withdrawal of US forces by 2012.
In a key step towards that full withdrawal, US troops handed over
control of urban areas to Iraqi security forces this week.
"This is a moment when we have to make sure that the Iraqis don't
take their eye off the ultimate prize," Biden said.
White House officials said Biden would meet President Jalal
Talabani and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as well as visit US
commanders and troops, marking the US July 4 Independence Day
holiday.
"He will discuss with Iraq's leaders the importance of achieving
the political progress that is necessary to ensure the nation's
long-term stability," the vice president's office said in a
statement.
It was Biden's second trip to Iraq this year and his first as vice
president. Obama visited Iraq in April.
Officials said Biden might meet up with his son, Beau Biden, who is
in Iraq with the Delaware National Guard in a unit that was
deployed late last year.
