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Cheney arrives in Iraqi capital Cheney arrives in Iraqi capital
(10 minutes later)
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Iraq's capital Baghdad, amid an ongoing drive by the US military to contain spiralling violence.US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Iraq's capital Baghdad, amid an ongoing drive by the US military to contain spiralling violence.
After a briefing by US officials and generals, Mr Cheney is expected to meet Iraqi leaders and urge them to work harder to heal political divisions.After a briefing by US officials and generals, Mr Cheney is expected to meet Iraqi leaders and urge them to work harder to heal political divisions.
A truck bomb has meanwhile killed at least 12 people in Irbil, in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. A truck bomb has meanwhile killed at least 15 people in Irbil, in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.
The bombings that have plagued other parts of Iraq remain rare in Kurdistan.The bombings that have plagued other parts of Iraq remain rare in Kurdistan.
Television pictures showed the blast had destroyed a building and left a large crater on a road where interior ministry offices are located.Television pictures showed the blast had destroyed a building and left a large crater on a road where interior ministry offices are located.
A witness quoted by Reuters news agency spoke of "fire coming out from the blast area. A man was burned to death."A witness quoted by Reuters news agency spoke of "fire coming out from the blast area. A man was burned to death."
A policeman evacuates a casualty from the Irbil explosion
A security official, First Lt Mariwan Kareem, told the agency the explosives in the truck had been hidden under kitchen cleaning products.A security official, First Lt Mariwan Kareem, told the agency the explosives in the truck had been hidden under kitchen cleaning products.
The blast took place at 0800 local time.The blast took place at 0800 local time.
The near-daily bombings and instability that have gripped much of Iraq have been largely absent from the northern region, but political tensions are rising over the drafting of a bill that will redistribute oil wealth among the country's Kurdish, Sunni and Shia population.The near-daily bombings and instability that have gripped much of Iraq have been largely absent from the northern region, but political tensions are rising over the drafting of a bill that will redistribute oil wealth among the country's Kurdish, Sunni and Shia population.
Most of Iraq's oil is concentrated around the Kurdish north and Shia south.Most of Iraq's oil is concentrated around the Kurdish north and Shia south.
Irbil last saw a major attack in May 2005, when the offices of a local political party were hit by a suicide bomber.Irbil last saw a major attack in May 2005, when the offices of a local political party were hit by a suicide bomber.