Obama Spoke With Iraqi Leaders Maliki, Talibani

Iraq is holding elections this year in a sign that violence is abating.

President Barack Obama spoke on Monday with Iraqi leaders as the new U.S. administration reviews policies and Iraq holds elections.

Obama spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said without giving details of the conversation.

Iraq is holding elections this year in a sign that violence is abating. Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region will hold elections on May 19 to select a new regional parliament, and elections for most of Iraq's provinces were held on Saturday.