NEW : US Vice President Joe Biden talks to al - Maliki by phone , stressing support . NEW : The U.S. is picking up military deliveries but wo n't send them into Iraq , they say . These sources say al-Maliki is trying to cite al Qaeda as a pretext to crush Sunni protesters and is using the same tack to get international support for his fight . The Iraqi Prime Minister talks to Falluja residents to expel ` ` terrorists '' from the city . Government forces have reportedly clashed with al Qaeda - linked fighters .
NEW : US Vice President Joe Biden talks to al - Maliki by phone , stressing support . NEW : The U.S. is picking up military deliveries but wo n't send them into Iraq , they say . The Iraqi Prime Minister talks to Falluja residents to expel ` ` terrorists '' from the city . Government forces have reportedly clashed with al Qaeda - linked fighters .