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US Vice President: Afghan Strategy Not at Expense of Iraq


U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has reassured Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that U.S. strategy in Afghanistan will not come at the expense of the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship.

The White House issued a statement saying Biden spoke with Mr. Maliki by phone Tuesday to discuss U.S. President Barack Obama's decision on the way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr. Obama announced late Tuesday the deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Biden also commended the Iraqi prime minister's efforts to solve the impasse over the much-delayed Iraqi electoral law. The U.S. vice president reiterated his call for an arrangement that would allow for national elections to be held soon.

Iraqi leaders are trying to reach a compromise on the law, that must be passed before a vote can be held. Iraqi elections officials say elections can not be held in January, as previously planned.

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi has threatened to veto the electoral law a second time unless it is amended to give more parliamentary representation to Iraqis who fled abroad during the fighting, most of whom are members of Iraq's Sunni minority.

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