WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday discussed ways they can work together to roll back the threat of an increasingly active al-Qaida in Iraq, although Obama stopped short of announcing any new commitments of assistance as Baghdad was seeking.

Al-Maliki came to the White House seeking more American aid to combat the violence ravaging his country, including additional weapons and help with intelligence. Bloodshed brought on by insurgents in Iraq has spiked since American troops left in 2011.

Obama said at the end of his roughly two-hour meeting with al-Maliki that the best way to honor lives lost during the Iraq war would be to bring about a functioning democracy. Neither leader discussed al-Maliki’s request for help before reporters, although Obama indicated the United States has a self-interest in helping Iraq fight terrorism.

“Unfortunately al-Qaida has still been active and has grown more active recently,” Obama said. “So we had a lot of discussion about how we can work together to push back against that terrorist organization that operates not only in Iraq, but also poses a threat to the entire region and to the United States.”

Al-Maliki said the two leaders had “similar positions” on countering terrorism and want to work together. He described Iraq’s democracy as fragile, but vowed to strengthen it. “It will only allow us to fight terrorists,” al-Maliki said through an interpreter.

By The Associated Press