(7 Apr 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of meeting between US President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
2. Mid of al-Maliki
3. Mid of Obama and al-Maliki
4. Mid of Iraqi delegation
5. Mid of Obama, zoom out to wide
6. Obama and al-Maliki arriving for news conference
7. Wide of Obama and al-Maliki at podium
8. SOUNDBITE: (English/Arabic translation) Barack Obama, US President: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"Overall violence continues to be down, there's been movement on political questions, but we have been reminded that there is more work to do."
9. Wide of Obama and al-Maliki at podium
10. SOUNDBITE: (English/Arabic translation) Barack Obama, US President: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"We strongly support political steps to be taken to resolve differences between various factions within Iraq and to ensure a more peaceful and prosperous future. Again, we've seen very good progress but, going forward, it's absolutely critical that all Iraqis are fully integrated in the government and the security forces."
11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"I thank President Obama for a readiness to help Iraq in reviewing the international resolutions that have been issued during the embargo and sanctions according to Chapter Seven (of the UN Charter)."
12. Wide of Obama and al-Maliki at podium
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"The US pursues no claims on Iraqis' territory and resources. We respect Iraqis' sovereignty and sacrifices that you have made for your country and we seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security and prosperity of the nation."
14. Obama greeting Iraqi officials
STORYLINE
Flying unannounced into a still-dangerous war zone, US President Barack Obama told US troops and Iraqi officials alike on Tuesday it is time to phase out America's combat role in a conflict he opposed as a candidate and has vowed to end as commander in chief.
"We seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security and prosperity of the nation," said Obama at a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Obama said he had "strongly encouraged" Iraqis to take political steps that would unite political factions, including integrating minority Sunnis into the government and security forces.
Al-Maliki told reporters progress in the "security area" would continue.
Obama's visit of a little more than four hours was confined to Camp Victory, the largest US Military base in a war that began in 2003 and has cost the lives of 4,265 members of the US military. Many thousands more Iraqis have perished.
A helicopter flight to the heavily fortified Green Zone a few miles distant was scrapped, but White House aides attributed the change in travel plans to poor weather rather than security concerns.
Upon his arrival, Obama addressed hundreds of cheering US soldiers gathered in an ornate, marble palace near Saddam Hussein's former seat of power.
American commanders told the president the country is experiencing a relatively low level of violence, although just hours before Obama arrived, a deadly car bomb exploded in Baghdad, underscoring the continuing peril despite a recent decline in violence.
Obama stressed progress had been made in efforts to reduce violence, but said "there is more work to do".
Obama announced plans in February to withdraw US troops from Iraq on a 19-month timetable, although a force as large as 50,000 could remain at the end of that period to provide counterterrorism duties.
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