BAGHDAD, July 21, SPA -- The need for Iraqi leaders to accelerate political reconciliation efforts to safeguard recentsecurity gains in their country will be the main focus oftalks between Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and President Barack Obama during a visit to Washington starting Tuesday. Al-Maliki left this morning from Baghdad and was enroute to Washington for an official visit to the United States. The U.S-Iraqi security pact, which took effect on Jan. 1;prospects for U.S. private investment in Iraq; andpolitical reconciliation will top al-Maliki's discussionsin Washington with Obama, Secretary of State Hillary RodhamClinton, lawmakers and business leaders. A large part of Obama's Wednesday meeting with al-Malikiwill be about political change that is needed for progressto occur in Iraq, White House press secretary Robert Gibbssaid Monday. «I have no doubt that that will take up a large part ofthe meeting with the prime minister,» he said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/686347