Biden meets with Iraq's al-Maliki in Baghdad (2nd Lead)

Sep 16, 2009, 18:12 GMT

Baghdad - US Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday appeared unfazed by the lethal rocket attacks that had greeted his arrival in Baghdad the night before, exchanging gifts and joking with Iraqi officials.

Iraqi police said that two people died and five were injured in the rocket attacks. The Mujahidine Army insurgent group claimed responsibility and said the attacks were a 'reception' for Biden, according to Washington SITE Intelligence Group.

'You can't get rid of me,' Biden joked when meeting his Iraqi counterpart, Adil Abdel-Mahdi. 'I just keep coming back, coming back.'

This is the US vice president's third visit to Iraq this year, following trips in July and January.

Later, after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Biden joked with the translator after the prime minister had to remind him to pause for translation, according to a reporter traveling with the US vice president.

In a joint press conference after that meeting, the US vice president told reporters that the United States remained committed to a full military withdrawal from the country by 2011.

'The enemies of national unity are ready to murder innocents to try to foment sectarian conflict,' Biden said in reference to a series of 10 bomb blasts in Baghdad that on August 19 left roughly 100 people dead, more than 1,200 wounded and destroyed much of the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance.

'We're confident terrorism will fail,' he said.

Al-Maliki said he looked forward to working with the United States to develop 'a political process that cements democracy in Iraq,' and that US forces were abiding by the Status of Forces Agreement that governs their presence there 'with high credibility.'

Earlier Wednesday, Biden had met with Sunni politicians Ayad al- Samarrai, speaker of the parliament, Rafi al-Issawi, a deputy prime minister, and Sunni vice-president Tariq al-Hashemi.

At each brief meeting, the US vice president greeted the Iraqi officials warmly, with traditional kisses on each cheek, and giving each a crystal bowl engraved with his signature, according to a reporter who is traveling with him.

In exchange, he received a golden statue of a palm tree, according to the pool report.

Biden on Tuesday night told reporters he had 'a personal relationship' with Iraqi leaders, and that he had 'won a measure of trust' from them.

Following his meeting with Biden, al-Samarrai said that Iraq remained interested in 'building international support for the state, the democratic process, and in addressing all outstanding issues.'