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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cheney in Baghdad for key talks | Cheney in Baghdad for key talks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for a previously unannounced visit, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion. | |
| Mr Cheney was expected to meet the top US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, and the US ambassador to the country, Ryan Crocker. | Mr Cheney was expected to meet the top US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, and the US ambassador to the country, Ryan Crocker. |
| He is also expected to hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and other Iraqi political figures. | He is also expected to hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and other Iraqi political figures. |
| The visit came as Mr Cheney began a 10-day tour of the Middle East. | The visit came as Mr Cheney began a 10-day tour of the Middle East. |
| He is due to hold talks with leaders in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey. | He is due to hold talks with leaders in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey. |
| Oman had been scheduled to be the first stop on Mr Cheney's tour, but on Sunday night he left the vice presidential plane Air Force Two in England and boarded a C-17 flight to the Iraqi capital. | Oman had been scheduled to be the first stop on Mr Cheney's tour, but on Sunday night he left the vice presidential plane Air Force Two in England and boarded a C-17 flight to the Iraqi capital. |
| Mr Cheney landed at Baghdad International Airport, before flying by helicopter to the Green Zone for talks with Iraqi leaders and US officials. | Mr Cheney landed at Baghdad International Airport, before flying by helicopter to the Green Zone for talks with Iraqi leaders and US officials. |
| It is his third vice-presidential trip to Iraq, where 160,000 American troops are deployed and the US death toll is nearing 4,000. | It is his third vice-presidential trip to Iraq, where 160,000 American troops are deployed and the US death toll is nearing 4,000. |