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Obama makes surprise Iraq visit Obama makes surprise Iraq visit
(30 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is in Iraq on an unannounced visit for talks with Iraqi leaders and to see US troops.US President Barack Obama is in Iraq on an unannounced visit for talks with Iraqi leaders and to see US troops.
Mr Obama flew into Baghdad at the end of a Europe trip that included economic and Nato summits and a visit to Turkey.Mr Obama flew into Baghdad at the end of a Europe trip that included economic and Nato summits and a visit to Turkey.
It is Mr Obama's first to Iraq since taking office, and he said there was still "a lot of work" to be done there. Speaking on his first to Iraq as president, Mr Obama said it was time for Iraqis to take start taking responsibility for their country.
For security reasons, the White House made no advance announcement of the visit, and released no details of his engagements inside the country. For security reasons, the White House made no advance announcement of the visit nor gave details of the schedule.
But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been speculation that Mr Obama would visit Iraq on his return from Europe. But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been speculation that Mr Obama would visit Iraq after leaving neighbouring Turkey.
The US president arrived at Baghdad's international airport on Air Force One in the late afternoon, local time.The US president arrived at Baghdad's international airport on Air Force One in the late afternoon, local time.
Reports said he was taken immediately by road to meet Gen Ray Odierno, the US military commander Iraq, and some of the 140,000 US soldiers serving in the country. He was taken immediately by road to meet Gen Ray Odierno, the US military commander Iraq, and some of the 140,000 US soldiers serving in the country.
"We spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right [but] there's still a lot of work to be done here," Mr Obama told reporters."We spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right [but] there's still a lot of work to be done here," Mr Obama told reporters.
He said the US had made "significant progress" in Iraq, and thanked the troops for their "extraordinary work".He said the US had made "significant progress" in Iraq, and thanked the troops for their "extraordinary work".
"General Odierno has been helping to lead a very effective operation here," said Mr Obama."General Odierno has been helping to lead a very effective operation here," said Mr Obama.
The president also presented bravery medals to 10 of the 600 soldiers who had lined up to greet him at the Camp Victory US base.
MeetingsMeetings
US officials said Mr Obama is also to have talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. US officials said Mr Obama would have talks by telephone with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani while in the country, and would meet Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in person at Camp Victory.
Officials said Mr Obama was unable to travel into the city to meet Mr Talabani as planned, as weather conditions had prevented a helicopter flight.
However, our correspondent says this may have been a diplomatic way of keeping the visit short, and enabling Mr Obama to return to the US to deal with pressing domestic issues.
Mr Obama said his presence in Iraq could help the country's competing political factions to reach "equitable" solutions to the issues facing Iraqis.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama had chosen to visit Iraq rather than Afghanistan, where the US is also engaged in conflict, to show Iraqi leaders that the way forward for the country lies "in political solutions".White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama had chosen to visit Iraq rather than Afghanistan, where the US is also engaged in conflict, to show Iraqi leaders that the way forward for the country lies "in political solutions".
Mr Obama has said he wants US soldiers to be out of Iraqi cities by the middle of summer this year, and most of them to be out of the country altogether by the end of 2010.Mr Obama has said he wants US soldiers to be out of Iraqi cities by the middle of summer this year, and most of them to be out of the country altogether by the end of 2010.
Our correspondent says Mr Obama will be seeking to reassure Iraq's leaders that the troops will be withdrawn responsibly and without plunging the country into chaos.Our correspondent says Mr Obama will be seeking to reassure Iraq's leaders that the troops will be withdrawn responsibly and without plunging the country into chaos.