Obama urges al-Maliki to hold elections on time

Oct 20, 2009, 17:06 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama urged Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during a meeting on Tuesday to ensure an election law is in place so polling can be conducted on time.

'We are very interested, both of us, in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place on time in January,' Obama said.

Iraqi is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on January 16, but al-Maliki's government has yet to agree on an election law, raising concerns the date might need to be pushed back.

Al-Maliki, speaking through a translator, reaffirmed his commitment to hold the elections on the scheduled date.

The Iraqi prime minister was in Washington along with a high level delegation to attend a conference designed to promote investment in Iraq.

Obama said he was sticking with his plan to remove US combat forces by August, which would leave about 50,000 soldiers there as advisors and trainers. He said all US troops will be out by the end of 2011.

Violence in Iraq has sharply decrease in the last 18 months although it has been hit recently by a spate of deadly bombings as Iraqi forces transition into the lead role in providing security.

But US officials are confident Iraq remains on the right track. Obama cited the emergence of democratic politics in Baghdad and al- Maliki's taking on a greater role to bring investment to his country as signs of progress.