Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) speaks with U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (L) in Baghdad July 21, 2008.

The Maliki-led Iraqi government is currently in a tug of war with the White House over rules governing the U.S. military presence in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of the year. It has been reported that Maliki sought to take the advantage of U.S. presidential campaign to squeeze Bush administration for the best deal possible.