Biden celebrates Independence Day with Saddam jibe

"That SOB is rolling over in his grave right now," he said of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

AFP-US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday celebrated Independence Day with American troops, including his soldier son Beau, at their base near Baghdad, giving a speech that mocked Saddam Hussein.

Biden addressed soldiers at Camp Victory shortly after saying the US role in Iraq was switching from deep military engagement to one of diplomatic support, ahead of a complete withdrawal from the country in 2011.

He earlier told newly sworn-in American citizens, mainly soldiers, that the United States had honoured its June 30 obligation to withdraw troops from Iraq’s towns and cities and the focus was now on strengthening political ties.

But his tone was far from diplomatic when he shared lunch with the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade from Delaware, to which his son belongs, at the massive US base on the outskirts of the capital.

"We did it in Saddam’s palace and I can think of nothing better," Biden said, referring to the naturalisation ceremony at Al-Faw Palace near Baghdad airport.

"That SOB is rolling over in his grave right now," he said of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Biden joined hundreds of US troops dining on chicken, ribs, hamburgers, salad, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and cakes at a July 4 feast in a canteen decked out in red, white and blue streamers and tablecloths.

The vice president spent 45 minutes working the room, greeting troops and saying "Hey man, how you doing?"

The citizenship ceremony saw 237 men and women, mainly Mexicans and Filipinos who joined the army while resident in the United States, as well as several Iraqi military translators, take the oath of allegiance.

"There is still an awful lot of hard work to do here, but thanks to you Iraqis are beginning to take responsibility for their own destiny and we will begin to welcome you home with the honour and gratitude you deserve," Biden told them.

"Our diplomats and civilians will focus on helping Iraqis make the much needed political compromise necessary for a lasting peace and security."

His comments came a day after meetings with Iraqi leaders in which he warned of a "hard road ahead if Iraq is going to find lasting peace and stability."

"It’s not over yet," Biden said after talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, which focused on bolstering trust between the conflict-torn nation’s various sects.

"There are still political steps that must be taken and Iraqis must use the political process to resolve their remaining differences and advance their national interest.

A senior US official told reporters Biden had also warned that Washington would disengage politically if violence in Iraq spiked.

"If it actually reverts to violence, then that would change the nature of our engagement. He was quite direct about that," the official said.

Kurdish authorities meanwhile announced that Biden had to cancel a trip to the northern autonomous region because sandstorms prevented him from flying from Baghdad to Arbil.

Biden’s visit to Iraq comes just after President Barack Obama charged him with overseeing the US departure in 2011.

Following Friday’s talks, Maliki, who is expected to visit Washington soon, said the US troop pullback signalled that the two countries had "entered a new phase."

"We will work during the next visit to the United States to push forward bilateral relations in various areas," Maliki said, according to a government statement.

"For his part, the US vice president said that the United States will continue to support the government of national unity and assist Iraq in the United Nations to get out of Chapter VII," a reference to sanctions imposed during Saddam’s regime which was toppled in the 2003 invasion.

Iraq marked Tuesday’s American pullback with a national holiday.

The country’s 500,000 police and 250,000 soldiers are now in charge in cities, towns and villages. Most of the 133,000 US troops, now based outside cities, will largely play a training and support role