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18:14 GMT
BAGHDAD, July 27 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said here Tuesday
Iraq needs a powerful national unity government, security, safety, economic
recovery and infrastructure.
Speaking at a meeting with visiting Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Talabani said Iraqi forces need more training and
equipment in order to be able to do their job properly, the Iraqi Presidency
said in a release.
During the meeting, which was also attended by US Ambassador in Iraq
Christopher Hill and several other US generals, both sides discussed the
latest political and security developments in Iraq.
He added that Iraqi political forces are continuing their dialogue to reach
a unanimously acceptable solution that could ensure a real national unity
government, it said.
"Iraq needs a strong national unity government, and needs to provide
security and reassurance to citizens, economic recovery and infrastructure,"
the Iraqi leader said.
For his part, Admiral Mullen hailed close relations between the US and
Iraq, especially following the downfall of the former dictatorial regime.
He also praised security progress in Iraq, wishing that the Iraqi people
could overcome the current situation in the way they choose.
He reiterated his country's support for the political and democratic
process in Iraq, vowing that Washington would continue its help to Iraqi
forces through training and equipping.
With the US military under strain from years of war since 2001, the Obama
administration remains determined to scale back the US presence despite
political deadlock in the country since the March election.
Iraq's parliament on Tuesday postponed indefinitely what would have been
only its second session since the March 7 vote, with parties unable to agree
on a new governing coalition.
The four-star admiral's visit to Iraq comes after twin car bombs killed 21
people on Monday in the southern Shiite holy city of Karbala, while four
people died in a suicide attack on Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya television channel
in Baghdad.
US and Iraqi officials have warned of the dangers of a spike in violence as
negotiations on forming a new governing coalition have dragged on without
agreement, nearly five months after parliamentary elections.
Iraqi forces took over security in the country's cities last year, and the
US military also has transferred to Baghdad control of prisons holding
suspected militants.
Mullen arrived in Baghdad as part of a 10-day global tour that included
stops in eastern and southern Afghanistan. (end)
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