Iraq prime minister visiting Obama July 22

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will visit President Barack Obama on July 22 as the United States presses the Iraqi leadership to take more responsibility for reconciling divided factions.

"The United States and Iraq enjoy a close relationship and are partners in building a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq through the responsible withdrawal of U.S. forces and the encouragement of new ties in trade, commerce, culture and education," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in announcing al-Maliki's visit to the White House.

As Washington focuses more resources on the war in Afghanistan, the Obama administration has been urging Maliki's government to take additional political steps to resolve remaining differences.

That has prompted an increasingly indignant response from the government of Shi'ite Arab al-Maliki. His spokesman rebuffed outside involvement in Iraqi affairs after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden offered U.S. help in reconciliation during a visit this month.

The United States plans to draw down forces in Iraq, saying the force which currently stands at around 130,000 would shrink rapidly after Iraq's national elections in January.