The meetings came after reports alleged that Maliki called Obama's 16-month US troop withdrawal plan "the right timeframe." Obama has said he would pull US forces out of Iraq at a rate of one to two brigades per month, which would allow him to complete a withdrawal of most combat troops within 16 months of taking office.

At left, Obama chatted with Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, during a visit to his office on Monday.