October 20, 2009 Obama renews vow to have U.S. troops out of Iraq by August 2010 Play video

(NECN: Washington) - President Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the White House today.

Obama renewed his vow to have all U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by next August, while nudging al-Maliki to see that his parliament quickly passes a critical election law essential to a nationwide vote in January.

Without an election law, the vote could be delayed, snarling American plans to begin significantly scaling back U.S. troop presence after the national referendum.

"We didn't just talk about military and security issues," the president said. "What is wonderful about this trip is that it represents a transition in our bilateral relationship so that we are moving now to issues beyond security and we are beginning to talk about economy, trade, commerce."

*Material from The Associated Press used in this report*