Baghdad, May 22, (VOI) – Iraqi Vice President Adel Abd al-Mahdi discussed on Tuesday, with a visiting U.S. Congress delegation, security developments and a timetable for withdrawal of the Multi-National Forces.

"Abd al-Mahdi briefed the congressional delegation –- led by Republican Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Democrat Brian Baird of Washington –- on developments in the political process aimed at consolidating democracy in Iraq," according to an Iraqi presidency statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The two U.S. congressmen stressed the need for the Iraqi government to shoulder its responsibilities in imposing security, order and stability, praising the Iraqi vice president's role in pushing forward the political process, VOI writes.

Before heading to Iraq, Shays said he would advocate the signing of a "Status of Forces Agreement" between the US and Iraq, the Connecticut Post reports. Such agreements have been used by the US in other countries where it maintains a military presence, such as South Korea.

However, the Connecticut Post notes, such agreements typcially govern legal questions, not military or strategic concerns.

This visit marks Shays's 17th trip to Iraq, the paper writes.