AFP, Baghdad, July 3, 2010 – US Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham on Saturday urged Iraqi leaders to act faster to form a coalition after meeting in Baghdad with the two main rivals for prime minister.
’We of course urge that there be a selection of a government that represents the results of the election and the will of the people,’ said McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
’We are hopeful that the negotiations that are taking place between the respective parties will resolve in the formation of the government as soon as possible,’ said the former presidential candidate.
The three hawkish senators, who arrived in Iraq on Friday, said at at a news conference that they met with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former premier Iyad Allawi, both of whom covet a return to the post after inconclusive elections in March.
Lieberman, an independent, said the United States was keen to ensure its ’ally’ Iraq got a good government.
’Most important to us are two things: one is the government formed reflects all the people who voted in the election; and secondly that it be a nationalistic, independent government. Iraq for Iraqis,’ said Lieberman.
McCain said he and his colleagues had made no recommendation on the formation of the new government.
’We have not attempted to in any way recommend the specifics of the formation of the new government, but we obviously have urged that they move forward with as much speed and efficiency as possible,’ he said.
The senators also met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, according to a source at the US embassy in Baghdad.
Later, the three senators met and shook hands with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for a separate, surprise visit aimed at bolstering Iraq’s fledgling democracy.
During his visit, the Vice President will meet with Iraqi political leaders to reaffirm the US long-term commitment to Iraq and to discuss recent developments,’ a White House statement said.
The United States has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in the past few weeks to help Iraq fill a power vacuum created by the election held almost four months ago.
Last month, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman held talks with all of Iraq’s main political leaders in a bid to promote an inclusive deal.
Washington is concerned about the stalemate as it is aiming to withdraw its combat troops and equipment from Iraq by the end of August.
’Every member in Congress believes that we should stay involved in Iraq — not with a large army — economically, culturally,’ Graham told reporters.
’I want to state to the people of Iraq that America is not (walking away) and I believe never will walk away from Iraq. You are our allies as we go forward,’ Lieberman said.