Obama meets top national security aides

Barack Obama\'s promise to end the war in Iraq will be on the agenda today when the new commander in chief meets with top national security aides and senior commanders.



Officials say Obama has summoned his holdover defense secretary, Robert Gates, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, to the White House.



The two senior military officers say other members of his National Security Council will also be present to discuss a way ahead in the war.



The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House had not publicly announced the meeting.



The war in Afghanistan is also to be discussed, with the commander overseeing both conflicts, General David Petraeus, scheduled to attend.



During his campaign, Obama said he intended to withdraw all US combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months.



Yesterday, the new US President used his inaugural address to pledge a new era of responsibility in a time of crisis at home and abroad.



Obama spoke after taking the oath of office as America\'s 44th president and its first African-American leader.



More than one million people gathered in the National Mall in Washington DC, to see Obama take the oath followed by a parade to the White House.



Later the Obamas took their first dance at an inauguration ball, which was one of ten the couple attended last night.