BEIJING, May 10 -- In Iraq, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has been pressing Iraq's leaders to reach a power-sharing deal without delay. Washington says the agreement is vital to ending sectarian violence in the country.

    The U.S. is becoming impatient over Iraqi slowness to pass laws on oil distribution and other key measures. The delays come as the U.S. ramps up efforts to secure Baghdad.

    Cheney held talks with Iraqi military and political officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday. The talks aimed to push Iraqi leaders to demonstrate progress in easing sectarian violence and sharing oil revenue.

    The talks also centered on the security crackdown in the capital, involving the deployment of 30,000 extra U.S. troops. And the US is urging the Iraqi parliament to scrap a planned two-month summer recess.

    The two sides pledged that their governments would continue working together towards a peaceful Iraq.

    Cheney said, "I do sense today, I think, a greater awareness on the part of the Iraqi officials I talked to of the importance of their working together to resolve these issues in a timely fashion. I think they recognize that it's in their interest as well as in our interest that they make progress on the political front just as we deal with the security issues."

    Meanwhile, supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied in Baghdad and southern Shiite areas to protest Cheney's visit. They are demanding the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces.

    Hazem Al-Araji, senior aide to Moqtada al-Sadr, said, "The Iraqi masses in Najaf, Kazimiyah and Karbala are in the streets protesting this ill-fated visit. The people are out to express their rejection of this visit."

    Cheney's unannounced visit comes at a sensitive time. Leaders from the Sunni Arab minority have threatened to quit Maliki's government. They say their interests are being ignored.

    Ethnic Kurds have also threatened to block the oil bill in parliament.

    Hazem al-Araji said, "The Iraqi masses in Najaf, Kazimiyah and Karbala are in the streets protesting this ill-fated visit. The people are out to express their rejection of this visit. This visit has comes as Iraq is in difficult times. It simply perpetuates the occupation."

    (Source: cctv.com)