Meanwhile, a key Shiite political bloc has carried out on its threat to end participation in the Iraqi government if Maliki sat down with Bush.

Salih al-Uqaili, a member of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s political group: “Therefore, the Sadr bloc in the House of Representatives and the Sadr Movement and ministers are suspending their membership in Parliament and the government to protest against this visit, which provokes the Iraqi people’s feelings and disregards their constitutional rights.”