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Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq
(19 minutes later)
US President George Bush has arrived in Iraq on a surprise, farewell visit to the country that has defined his presidency since the invasion in 2003.US President George Bush has arrived in Iraq on a surprise, farewell visit to the country that has defined his presidency since the invasion in 2003.
The White House said Mr Bush had landed in Baghdad, his fourth visit to Iraq. The White House said Mr Bush would meet Iraqi leaders, celebrate the new security agreement between the nations and thank US troops serving there.
His arrival comes a day after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told US troops in Iraq that their mission there was in its "endgame". The visit comes a day after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told US troops the Iraq mission was in its "endgame".
Mr Gates has been picked to stay on as defence secretary in Barack Obama's administration. Mr Gates has been picked to stay on as defence secretary by Barack Obama.
"Bush has come to meet Iraqi leaders, thank the troops and celebrate the new security agreement," a White House official was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Mr Bush's first stop was the Iraqi presidential palace where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.Mr Bush's first stop was the Iraqi presidential palace where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.
He was then to meet Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.He was then to meet Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
Troop promises
The visit, unannounced in advance and conducted under strict security, follows the approval last month of a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that calls for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.
US troops are first to withdraw from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, by June next year.
President Bush leaves the White House in less than six weeks.
President-elect Obama has promised to bring home US combat troops from Iraq in a little over a year from when he takes office in January.
There are currently about 149,000 US soldiers in Iraq, down from last year's peak of 170,000 after extra troops were poured in to deal with a worsening security situation.
As Mr Bush arrived in Baghdad, Gen David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, which includes Iraq, said attacks in the country had dropped from 180 a day in June 2007 to 10 a day now.