Obama makes unannounced Iraq visit

Updated: 22:43, Tuesday, 7 April 2009

US President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today.

1 of 1 Barack Obama Met US troops in Iraq
Barack Obama
Met US troops in Iraq

US President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today.

The White House said that Mr Obama met US commanders and troops.

He was to speak with Iraqi leaders by telephone rather than see them in person because poor visibility prevented helicopter travel around the capital, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Flying secretly from Istanbul at the end of his first major international tour, Mr Obama visited the scene of a war that he inherited from his predecessor, George W Bush.

It was his first visit to Iraq since before his November 2008 election victory.

Air Force One touched down at Baghdad International Airport a day after a string of seemingly coordinated bombings across the Iraqi capital killed 37 people.

During his brief visit, Mr Obama met General Ray Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq, addressed troops, and spoke to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani.

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