This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7515179.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama opens foreign tour in Kabul | Obama opens foreign tour in Kabul |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, at the start of a high-profile international tour. | |
| Mr Obama flew to Kabul as part of a US congressional team. He is expected to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | Mr Obama flew to Kabul as part of a US congressional team. He is expected to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. |
| He is later expected to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. | He is later expected to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. |
| Correspondents say Mr Obama is hoping to address security issues, seen as the weakest aspect of his presidential bid. | Correspondents say Mr Obama is hoping to address security issues, seen as the weakest aspect of his presidential bid. |
| Opinion polls suggest Americans regard Republican John McCain as a better potential commander-in-chief. | Opinion polls suggest Americans regard Republican John McCain as a better potential commander-in-chief. |
| I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking Barack Obama Pitfalls for Obama on world tour | |
| In a speech earlier this week, Mr Obama said the US military should focus on Afghanistan rather than Iraq. | In a speech earlier this week, Mr Obama said the US military should focus on Afghanistan rather than Iraq. |
| There has been an upsurge in fighting in recent months between Taleban rebels and international and Afghan forces. | There has been an upsurge in fighting in recent months between Taleban rebels and international and Afghan forces. |
| Asked what message he would convey to Afghan and Iraqi leaders, Mr Obama said: "I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking." | |
| He added: "I'm going over there as a US senator. We have one president at a time, so it's the president's job to deliver those messages." | |
| Mr Obama will be accompanied by news anchors from America's major television networks during his foreign tour. |