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Obama sees leaders in Iraq visit Obama urges Iraqis to take charge
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama has been meeting Iraqi leaders and visiting US troops on an unannounced visit to Iraq. US President Barack Obama has said the time has come for Iraqis to "take responsibility for their country".
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 was speaking during an unannounced trip to Baghdad, his first visit to the country as president.
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. He was greeted enthusiastically by US troops, whom he praised for their "extraordinary achievements" in Iraq.
He also met Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, telling him the US had "no claim" on Iraqi land or resources. Mr Obama also had talks with Iraq's leaders, and confirmed his plans to withdraw all US troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
For security reasons, the White House made no advance announcement of the visit and did not release details of the schedule. The president flew into Baghdad's international airport before travelling 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.
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 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. Mr Obama thanked Gen Odierno for helping to lead what he said was "a very effective operation" in Iraq.
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". He told about 600 US soldiers gathered at the 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 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. The troops had greeted him with cheers and shouts of "we love you Obama".
He told Mr Maliki that the US had "no claim on Iraqi territory and resources," reported Reuters. Critical time
Mr Obama and Mr Maliki had a "positive" meeting, said aides
Mr Obama told the soldiers that the next 18 months "could be a critical period" in Iraq.
He has said he wants US soldiers to have left 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.
A smaller number of military advisers and support staff would remain in the country until 2011.
"It is time for us to transfer to the Iraqis. They need to take responsibility for their country," he said, before shaking hands and taking photographs with many of the soldiers.
The visit, which lasted less than five hours, also included a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who travelled to Camp Victory to meet Mr Obama.
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".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 told Mr Maliki that progress had been made on improving security but that it was "absolutely critical" for all Iraqis to be integrated into the political system.
Mr Obama and Mr Maliki had a "postive" meeting, said aides He said the US had "no claim on Iraqi territory and resources," reported Reuters.
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. No surprise
He told the troops that the next 18 months "could be a critical period" in the country. Mr Obama was greeted enthusiastically by US soldiers at Camp Victory
"It is time for us to transfer to the Iraqis. They need to take responsibility for their country." For security reasons, the White House had made no advance announcement of the visit and did not release details of the president's schedule.
The president then shook hands with many of the soldiers, who greeted him with cheers and shouts of "we love you Obama". But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been widespread speculation that Mr Obama would visit either Iraq or Afghanistan at the end of his Europe trip, which included economic and Nato summits and a visit to Turkey.
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".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 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 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.He said his presence in Iraq could also help the country's competing political factions to reach "equitable" solutions to the issues facing Iraqis.
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. Levels of violence have been generally declining in Iraq, but Mr Obama's visit comes a day after more than 34 people died in apparently coordinated car bomb attacks in Baghdad.
Insurgents still seem able to strike with deadly results, claiming more than 200 lives in both February and March.Insurgents still seem able to strike with deadly results, claiming more than 200 lives in both February and March.
Some US military and Iraqi government officials have privately expressed concern that the violence might again rise as US troops are pulled out.Some US military and Iraqi government officials have privately expressed concern that the violence might again rise as US troops are pulled out.
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. Our correspondent says Mr Obama will have used the visit to reassure Iraq's leaders that, when US troops are eventually withdrawn, it will be done responsibly and without plunging the country into chaos.