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Cheney in Baghdad for key talks Cheney in Baghdad for key talks
(about 2 hours later)
US Vice-President Dick Cheney is meeting Iraqi leaders in Baghdad, amid an ongoing drive by the US military to contain spiralling violence. US Vice-President Dick Cheney is visiting Baghdad to press feuding Iraqi leaders towards a political accord that could stem the daily violence.
After meeting US generals, Mr Cheney is expected to urge Iraqi leaders to work harder to heal political rifts. "This is a very important time. There's a lot to talk about," Mr Cheney said.
His trip follows an announcement that 35,000 more US troops may be sent to Iraq to maintain current levels. He met the top US commander in Iraq before heading into talks with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his cabinet.
A truck bomb has meanwhile killed at least 19 people in Irbil, a city in Iraq's usually peaceful Kurdish region. A joint US-Iraq security "surge" in Baghdad is entering its fourth month but sectarian violence continues and US troops are being killed every day.
Upon arriving in Baghdad, Mr Cheney held talks with the US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and the top commander of US forces in the country, Gen David Petraeus. As Mr Cheney arrived in Baghdad, at least 14 people were killed in the city of Irbil, in the relatively calm Kurdish north.
"There's a lot going on. This is a very important time. There's a lot to talk about," he said. Mr Cheney held talks with the US ambassador, Ryan Crocker, and with the commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus.
Mr Cheney is scheduled to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, President Jalal Talabani and several members of the cabinet. Ambassador Crocker said the vice-president would try to dissuade Iraqi politicians from taking a two-month holiday this summer.
Ambassador Crocker said the vice president would try to dissuade Iraqi politicians from taking a two-month vacation this summer.
"For the Iraqi parliament to take a two-month vacation in summer is impossible to understand," he said, given the "major effort" being made by US and Iraqi security forces."For the Iraqi parliament to take a two-month vacation in summer is impossible to understand," he said, given the "major effort" being made by US and Iraqi security forces.
Mr Cheney was also expected to urge Iraqi leaders to work harder to heal political rifts.
His previously announced trip to Iraq comes at the start of a Middle East tour that will also take him to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.
Congressional battleCongressional battle
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has told 35,000 US troops they may be required in Iraq this autumn.Meanwhile, the Pentagon has told 35,000 US troops they may be required in Iraq this autumn.
President Bush has already placed an extra 30,000 troops in Iraq as part of a push to contain soaring unrest. A policeman evacuates a casualty from the Irbil explosionPresident Bush has already placed an extra 30,000 troops in Iraq as part of the 12-week-old security "surge" in Baghdad and in the western province of Anbar,
The latest Pentagon order would enable this push to be maintained until the end of the year, if neccessary. The latest Pentagon order would enable this push to be maintained until the end of the year, if necessary.
However, a defence department spokesman said no decision had yet been taken on prolonging the current surge.However, a defence department spokesman said no decision had yet been taken on prolonging the current surge.
In Washington, the president's Republican party is battling Democratic rivals who want Congress to place checks on funding the war in Iraq. In Washington, the president's Republican party is battling Democratic rivals who want Congress to place checks on funding for the war in Iraq.
Irbil attackIrbil attack
In northern Iraq, the Irbil bombing injured about 70 people. In northern Iraq, the bomb attack in Irbil injured about 70 people.
A policeman evacuates a casualty from the Irbil explosionTelevision 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 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. A security official, First Lt Mariwan Kareem, told the agency the explosives in the truck had been hidden under kitchen cleaning products.
The near-daily bombings and instability that have gripped much of Iraq remain rare in the autonomous Kurdish northern region.The near-daily bombings and instability that have gripped much of Iraq remain rare in the autonomous Kurdish northern region.
However, political tensions are rising over the drafting of a bill that will redistribute oil wealth among the country's Kurdish, Sunni and Shia population.However, 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.