McCain stresses US commitment to Iraq in talks with Al Maliki

Baghdad: US Senator John McCain stressed the importance of a US commitment to Iraq during talks with Iraq's prime minister on Monday, while explosions struck Baghdad
during twin visits by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and Vice President Dick Cheney.

McCain, who has linked his political future to US military success in Iraq, met with Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki shortly before the Iraqi leader began separate talks with Cheney.

He said it was important to maintain the US commitment in Iraq and warned that a US-Iraqi military operation to clear Al Qaida from its last urban stronghold of Mosul, northwest of Baghdad, will be "very difficult and very important."

McCain, who arrived in Iraq on Sunday, told reporters that he also discussed with the Shiite leader the need for progress on political reforms, including laws on holding provincial elections and the equitable distribution of Iraq's oil riches.

He met with Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh on Sunday and planned to meet with General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, the US Embassy said.