July 4, 2009 VP Biden on 3 day trip to Iraq Play video

(NECN/APTV) - US Vice President Joe Biden pressed Iraqi leaders on Friday to do more to foster national reconciliation and offered US assistance in achieving that, as concerns grow that a lack of political progress is fueling violence in Iraq.

He stressed that America would "continue to help train, equip and support Iraqi security forces," and wanted to build on the US partnership with Iraqi leaders even as it draws down its forces, starting with Tuesday's deadline for pulling back combat troops from cities.

Biden, who was making the three-day visit to Iraq after being appointed to oversee the administration's Iraq policy, said he came with a "clear message " of the US commitment to Iraq's success.

Biden arrived in Baghdad late on Thursday for an unusually long visit that followed the withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraq's cities and towns as part of a security agreement that will see all American soldiers out of the country by the end of 2011.

US President Barack Obama also has said all combat troops will be gone by the end of August 2010, leaving 30-thousand to 50-thousand troops in advisory roles.

But Biden's visit and his new position as Obama's point man on Iraq reflect growing concern in the US administration about a recent rise in violence after a series of bombings that killed scores of people.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has been criticized for failing to take advantage of security gains

to make progress in overcoming disputes between Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and other groups as divisions deepen before January 30 general elections.

Violence remains at low levels in Iraq compared with previous years, but US and Iraqi officials have warned of more attacks after the city withdrawal deadline and in the run-up to the elections.

"The enemies of Iraq have once again tried to re-ignite sectarian violence through some, several deadly bombings. They will fail. They will fail because Iraq's future belongs to those who are attempting to build Iraq, not those who are attempting to destroy it," Biden said.

At least 447 Iraqi civilians were killed in June, double the toll from the previous month, according to an Associated Press tally.

Al-Maliki has called the US withdrawal from cities as a "great victory" and declared June 30 National Sovereignty Day. On Friday, he expressed gratitude for the US support.

Some Baghdad residents on Saturday, meanwhile, called Biden's visit fruitless saying most visits by US officials to Iraq are aimed at furthering US interests and not those of regular Iraqis.

It was Biden's first trip to Iraq as vice president, although he has traveled to the country as a senator and said he wanted to re-establish contacts with Iraqi leaders. He said this was the first of several trips to the region.