U.S. discusses Iraq's future

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. officials said Monday Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has reviewed future political developments in Iraq with a senior U.N. diplomat.

Armitage met the U.N. envoy, Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, earlier this week, officials said.

"The meeting (was) an opportunity for us to hear the ambassador's views on a variety of important issues, particularly what's going on in Iraq, not only ongoing events but also future political development," the State Department's deputy spokesman Adam Ereli told a briefing in Washington.

Armitage also offered to help the world body in its efforts to bring democracy and stability to Iraq, Ereli said.