Clinton meets Iraqi PM al-Maliki
(19 Oct 2009) SHOTLIST 1. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki entering news conference 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State: "We also discussed the upcoming national elections, which are critical to Iraq's future. Obviously we are supporting the efforts to ensure that the elections are credible and legitimate and that a new government is formed in a timely way to continue the peaceful stability and economic growth that is so important." 3. Mid of news conference 4. Close up of al-Maliki 5. Clinton and al-Maliki leaving news conference STORYLINE: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday said Iraq's parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2010 were critical for the country's future. Clinton made the comment at a news conference in Washington following talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "Obviously we are supporting the efforts to ensure the elections are credible and legitimate and that a new government is formed in a timely way to continue the peaceful stability and economic growth that is so important," Clinton told reporters. Although violence has eased in the country since 2006 and 2007, ongoing violent attacks, especially in Baghdad, have undermined Iraqis' confidence in al-Maliki's security policy ahead of the elections. Bombs targeting a take-out restaurant and a commuter bus in the Iraqi capital killed at least four people on Monday, highlighting the continuing challenge to Iraqi forces of maintaining security in the country. The two bombings and another at a cafe in Baghdad on Sunday suggest that insurgents are taking advantage of the transition from US forces to Iraqi security that happened at the end of June to stage attacks. The recent violence is sure to be on the agenda when al-Maliki meets President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden next week. Al-Maliki's trip to the United States was designed to coincide with an investor conference in Washington DC that aims to drum up interest in Iraq's still fragile economy. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
