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| US defence chief arrives in Iraq | US defence chief arrives in Iraq |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced visit. | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced visit. |
| Mr Gates flew to Baghdad from Israel, where he told reporters he wanted to see "faster progress" towards political reconciliation in Iraq. | Mr Gates flew to Baghdad from Israel, where he told reporters he wanted to see "faster progress" towards political reconciliation in Iraq. |
| His visit came a day after bombings in Baghdad killed nearly 200 people. At least 11 people died in another blast in the capital on Thursday. | His visit came a day after bombings in Baghdad killed nearly 200 people. At least 11 people died in another blast in the capital on Thursday. |
| The violence was the worst since a US-led security push began in February. | The violence was the worst since a US-led security push began in February. |
| It is Mr Gates' third visit to Iraq since he took office in December. | It is Mr Gates' third visit to Iraq since he took office in December. |
| As he set off for Baghdad, the defence secretary said the Iraqi leadership must be aware that the US' military commitment to the country was not "open-ended". | As he set off for Baghdad, the defence secretary said the Iraqi leadership must be aware that the US' military commitment to the country was not "open-ended". |
| Some 28,000 extra US troops were ordered to Iraq as part of President Bush's security offensive in Baghdad. | Some 28,000 extra US troops were ordered to Iraq as part of President Bush's security offensive in Baghdad. |
| 'Soldiers of Satan' | 'Soldiers of Satan' |
| Shortly before Mr Gates arrived in the Iraqi capital, at least 11 people died when a suicide car bomber rammed a fuel lorry in Baghdad, police say. | Shortly before Mr Gates arrived in the Iraqi capital, at least 11 people died when a suicide car bomber rammed a fuel lorry in Baghdad, police say. |
| Another 21 people were injured in the blast, which happened in the mainly Shia Karrada district of the city at 1315 (0915 GMT). | |
| Separately, the army said 20 insurgents had been killed and 84 arrested in operations across Iraq. | Separately, the army said 20 insurgents had been killed and 84 arrested in operations across Iraq. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki condemned Wednesday's bombings, describing those behind the attacks as "soldiers of Satan". | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki condemned Wednesday's bombings, describing those behind the attacks as "soldiers of Satan". |
| He also ordered the arrest of the army commander responsible for security in Sadriya district, where 140 people died in a blast at a food market. | He also ordered the arrest of the army commander responsible for security in Sadriya district, where 140 people died in a blast at a food market. |
| Car and suicide bombings have occurred almost daily in Baghdad in recent months, despite the security crackdown. | Car and suicide bombings have occurred almost daily in Baghdad in recent months, despite the security crackdown. |
| The bombers are proving that they can slip through the tightened security net, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. | The bombers are proving that they can slip through the tightened security net, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. |
| Most of the attacks have been in Shia areas, increasing pressure for the Shia militias to step up their campaign of reprisal killings against the Sunni community in which the insurgents are based, says our correspondent. | Most of the attacks have been in Shia areas, increasing pressure for the Shia militias to step up their campaign of reprisal killings against the Sunni community in which the insurgents are based, says our correspondent. |
| American commanders say they are still in the process of implementing the plan - there are still more troops to arrive, and US and Iraqi forces are still bedding down. | American commanders say they are still in the process of implementing the plan - there are still more troops to arrive, and US and Iraqi forces are still bedding down. |