Maliki described his first meeting with Obama in the White House is "positive and constructive", saying that the two sides share commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and sovereign Iraq.

Echoing Obama's pledge to withdraw all troops from Iraq as scheduled, Maliki said the Iraqi security forces has "high capability" to impose peace and security after the complete withdrawal of the US troops.

US President Barack Obama (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hold a joint press conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, July 22, 2009. This is the first meeting between Maliki and Obama since US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities at the end of June. [Zhang Yan/Xinhua]

"Our forces became now highly capable. And they will continue to do their role and their part to provide the opportunity needed for reconstruction, rebuilding and developing Iraq," said the prime minister.

As to the political reconciliation process, Maliki said his government will work on "a national plan where all sons of Iraq and all daughters of Iraq are equal in their contribution and in their services."

"They will be unified by Iraq, they will not be divided by other elements. We will strengthening the relationship between the people of Iraq," he said.

"This is the direction of the Iraqi national unity government, and that made us work very closely in meeting all the challenges that we are facing," said the prime minister, adding "we will benefit from the strategic relationship with the United States."

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)