There were no fighter jets this time, or heroic poses in military costume, but last Tuesday in Washington Barack Obama, the US president, did mimic his predecessor in one way - by trying to turn the page on operation Iraqi freedom.

At the same time, Joe Biden, his vice-president, was in Baghdad telling Iraqi leaders that it is time for them to meet their responsibilities.

"The Iraqi people voted in large numbers ..." he said "and expect a government that reflects their votes."

But almost six months after the parliamentary election the formation of Iraq's government remains in gridlock. So what is making the process so difficult and who is responsible for the political wrangling?

To discuss this Inside Iraq is joined by: Saad al-Muttalibi, a political advisor to the ministry of dialogue and reconciliation; Mustafa al-Hiti, a former member of the Iraqi parliament and a member of the Iraqi National Alliance; Sami Ramadani, a professor of Applied Social Sciences at London Metropolitan University.

This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, September 3, 2010.