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Obama visits US soldiers in Iraq Obama sees leaders in Iraq visit
(about 1 hour 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 has been meeting Iraqi leaders and visiting US troops on an unannounced visit to Iraq.
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.
Speaking on his first trip to Iraq as president, Mr Obama said it was time for Iraqis to take start taking responsibility for their country.Speaking on his first trip 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 nor gave details of the schedule. He also met Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, telling him the US had "no claim" on Iraqi land or resources.
For security reasons, the White House made no advance announcement of the visit and did not release details of the schedule.
But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been speculation that Mr Obama would visit Iraq after leaving neighbouring Turkey.But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been speculation that Mr Obama would visit Iraq after leaving neighbouring Turkey.
The Iraq visit is being described as a surprise when it is anything but Justin Webb's America The Iraq visit is being described as a surprise when it is anything but Justin Webb's America
The US president arrived at Baghdad's international airport on Air Force One in the late afternoon, local time. The US president flew into Baghdad's international airport on Air Force One and travelled by road to meet Gen Ray Odierno, the US military commander in 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. Mr Obama thanked Gen Odierno for "helping to lead a very effective operation" in Iraq and told the troops gathered at the Camp Victory US military base that they had helped Iraq to "stand on its own as a democratic country".
"We spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right [but] there's still a lot of work to be done here," said Mr Obama.
He told the troops gathered at Camp Victory military base that they had helped Iraq to "stand on its own as a democratic country".
"That is an extraordinary achievement, and for that you have the thanks of the American people," he said."That is an extraordinary achievement, and for that you have the thanks of the American people," he said.
Mr Obama also thanked Gen Odierno for "helping to lead a very effective operation" in Iraq. Mr Obama met Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in person at Camp Victory and officials said he would also hold talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani while in the country.
He told Mr Maliki that the US had "no claim on Iraqi territory and resources," reported Reuters.
A spokesman for Mr Maliki said the meeting had been "positive" and that Mr Obama had "renewed the American commitment to Iraq and to withdrawing troops as previously planned".
'Critical' time
Mr Obama and Mr Maliki had a "postive" meeting, said aides
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.
He told the troops that the next 18 months "could be a critical period" in the country.
"It is time for us to transfer to the Iraqis. They need to take responsibility for their country."
The president then shook hands with many of the soldiers, who greeted him with cheers and shouts of "we love you Obama".The president then shook hands with many of the soldiers, who greeted him with cheers and shouts of "we love you Obama".
Meetings Correspondents said a visit by Mr Obama to US troops deployed in either Iraq or Afghanistan was, while unannounced, widely expected.
US officials said Mr Obama chose Iraq over Afghanistan partly because Iraq was simply closer to Turkey, but also to show Iraqi leaders that the way forward for the country lies "in political solutions".
Mr Obama said the US had "spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right" but that there was "still a lot of work to be done" in Iraq.
Mr Obama was greeted enthusiastically by US soldiers at Camp VictoryMr Obama was greeted enthusiastically by US soldiers at Camp Victory
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. He said his presence in Iraq could also help the country's competing political factions to reach "equitable" solutions to the issues facing Iraqis.
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. Levels of violence have been generally declining in Iraq, but Mr Obama's visit comes after more than 34 people died in apparently coordinated car bomb attacks in Baghdad.
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. Insurgents still seem able to strike with deadly results, claiming more than 200 lives in both February and March.
Mr Obama said his presence in Iraq could help the country's competing political factions to reach "equitable" solutions to the issues facing Iraqis. Some US military and Iraqi government officials have privately expressed concern that the violence might again rise as US troops are pulled out.
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". Our correspondent says Mr Obama will use the visit to reassure Iraq's leaders that when US troops withdrawn, it will be done responsibly and without plunging the country into chaos.
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.