Biden 'optimistic' about Iraqi progress

BAGHDAD, July 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday he was "optimistic" all political sides would have meaningful, relevant roles in Iraq's pending new government.

"I remain, as I have ... extremely optimistic about a government being formed here that will be representative, represent all the major parties," Biden told reporters after meeting separately with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Maliki's chief challenger, former interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Maliki is a Shiite seeking to keep his post after his State of Law coalition and Islamic Dawa Party lost the March 7 election. Allawi is the leader of the secular Iraqiya coalition, which won the most seats in the parliamentary elections but not a mandate to form a new government.

In closed-door meetings, Biden urged each politician to end a four-month impasse and form a new government, the Financial Times reported.

Maliki said in a statement he expected Iraq's political blocs to agree on key government posts before the next parliamentary session July 14.

The Obama administration plans to begin drawing down its combat troops Aug. 31, leaving a non-combat force of 50,000 by September and complete the troop withdrawal by December 2011.

Biden told Iraqi party leaders at the U.S. Embassy late Sunday Washington would remain committed to Iraq even after the planned withdrawal.

He earlier told U.S. troops, "when the new government is formed, it will mark something absolutely extraordinary -- a peaceful transition of power encompassing all the people of Iraq, maybe for the first time in their history."

His comments came on a day two terrorist blasts killed at least four people and injured at least 25 others.

One blast rocked Mosul, 250 miles northwest of Baghdad, and the other hit Ramadi, 68 miles west of the Iraqi capital.