Biden Urges Iraqi Leaders to Settle Differences

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　　The White House says Biden telephoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the speaker of the Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi. It says Biden stressed the urgent need for the prime minister the leaders of other political blocs³ to meet and work through their differences.

　　Biden again said the United States has a long-term commitment to a strategic partnership⁴ with Iraq.

　　Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, denies charges that he was behind an alleged⁵ plot to kill other government officials. He says charges by the Shi'ite-led government are politically motivated. Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged terrorism.

　　An Interior Ministry⁶ spokesman says three of Hashemi's bodyguards⁷ confessed they planted bombs targeting Iraqi government and security officials with Hashemi's backing.

　　Last week, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a no-confidence vote in parliament against another leading Sunni politician, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq. In an interview with VOA's Kurdish service, Mutlaq called Mr. Maliki a dictator and urged the United States to revisit its policy on Iraq.

　　Both Hashemi and Mutlaq are leaders of Iraq's mostly Sunni Iraqiya political bloc², part of the country's coalition⁸ government. Iraqiya's members walked out of parliament on Saturday, accusing Mr. Maliki of seizing power.

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