Obama senior aide paid visit to Iraq, Afghanistan: White House

US Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough paid visit to Iraq and Afghanistan from Monday to Wednesday, White House said in a statement on Wednesday.

In meetings with Iraqi leaders, McDonough stressed the support by U.S. President Barack Obama for Iraq's independent democratic institutions, and urged "inclusive dialogue" toward national reconciliation, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in the statement.

He also reiterated the U.S. view that any investigation into Iraq's central bank must be "transparent and in accordance with Iraqi law," said Vietor.

McDonough also discussed Syria, with "a particular focus on ensuring that violence from Syria does not degrade Iraq's domestic security," Vietor said.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, McDonough toured Kabul, Eastern and Southern Afghanistan to meet with U.S. civilian and military leaders, as well as Afghan leaders, he said.

Vietor said that McDonough, in his meetings, discussed the " current state of transition to Afghan lead" and the U.S. progress towards meeting the objectives agreed to at the NATO Summit in Chicago earlier this year.