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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| McCain pays surprise Iraq visit | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| US Senator John McCain has gone to Baghdad in a previously unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital. | |
| Mr McCain - set to be the Republican's presidential candidate in November - will meet with US and Iraqi officials during his trip. | Mr McCain - set to be the Republican's presidential candidate in November - will meet with US and Iraqi officials during his trip. |
| Mr McCain is also scheduled to visit London, Paris and Israel this week. | Mr McCain is also scheduled to visit London, Paris and Israel this week. |
| The senator is known for his strong support of current US policy in Iraq, and was one of the most prominent proponents of the "surge" strategy. | The senator is known for his strong support of current US policy in Iraq, and was one of the most prominent proponents of the "surge" strategy. |
| Eighth visit | Eighth visit |
| This will be Mr McCain's eighth visit to the country since the US-led invasion began in 2003. | This will be Mr McCain's eighth visit to the country since the US-led invasion began in 2003. |
| He is scheduled to hold meetings with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh and Gen David Petraeus, the commander of US troops in Iraq. | He is scheduled to hold meetings with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh and Gen David Petraeus, the commander of US troops in Iraq. |
| During the rest of his tour he will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert | During the rest of his tour he will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert |
| He is being accompanied on his trip by Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator Lindsey Graham, close allies of Mr McCain and fellow supporters of a continued US troop presence in Iraq. | He is being accompanied on his trip by Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator Lindsey Graham, close allies of Mr McCain and fellow supporters of a continued US troop presence in Iraq. |