Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malki left Sunday for the United States where he is to hold talks on ties between the two countries after the withdrawal of the American military troops by the end of this month, dpa reported.
Al-Malki is due to meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington Monday for talks on post-pullout cooperation, said Iraqi sources.
The visit comes more than a week after al-Malki and US Vice President Joe Biden announced in Baghdad "a new stage of strategic relations" between the two countries.
Obama announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of the year, after more than eight years of military involvement in the country.
Efforts to extend the US mission beyond the deadline failed following the Iraqi government's reluctance to grant immunity to troops that would have remained after December 31.
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