Biden in Iraq over US troops withdrawal

US Vice President Joe Biden has paid an unannounced visit to Iraq, reportedly to raise the issue of extending a December 31, 2011 deadline for US troops to leave the country.

Biden, who arrived in Baghdad just after midnight, met with Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki hours after his arrival for the first time since the premier began a second term.

“I’m here to help the Iraqis celebrate the progress they made. They formed a government. And that’s a good thing. They have a long way to go,” Biden said upon his arrival.

Maliki was approved for a second term by parliament on December 21 along with a national unity cabinet after over nine months of political deadlock.

Biden also met President Jalal Talabani, Finance Minister Rafa al-Essawi and parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, officials said. He is also scheduled to meet Iyad Allawi, who heads the Iraqiya bloc, AFP reported.

During the meeting, Maliki assured Biden that Iraq was “capable of meeting the security challenge,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

Iraqi officials say they expect that the issue of some US forces remaining beyond the December 31 deadline will dominate the talks.

The last US combat brigade left the country in August 2010, seven years after the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Though combat operations have officially ended, some 50,000 US troops will remain in the country until the end of 2011 to “advise Iraqi forces and protect US interests.”