Iraq PM to meet with Obama in November

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on November 1st, according to AFP sources.

The Obama-Maliki talks are scheduled to focus on a US-Iraq Strategic Framework agreement to guide financial, political and diplomatic relations between the two countries following the final US troop withdrawal in late 2011.  

Talks may also focus on "regional issues" and ways in which Iraq and US can coordinate efforts in this regard, according to a White House statement.

Maliki's visit comes amidst rising sectarian violence in Iraq, along with Washington complaints that Iraq has allowed Iran to use its airspace to transport weapons to the Syrian regime.