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| Rice in talks on Iraqi violence | Rice in talks on Iraqi violence |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has flown into the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on an unannounced visit. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has flown into the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on an unannounced visit. |
| She is meeting Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and other senior officials for talks expected to focus on efforts to tackle Iraq's sectarian violence. | She is meeting Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and other senior officials for talks expected to focus on efforts to tackle Iraq's sectarian violence. |
| Ms Rice flew to Baghdad after talks with Israeli ministers in Jerusalem. | Ms Rice flew to Baghdad after talks with Israeli ministers in Jerusalem. |
| The past week has seen the highest number of car bombs and roadside bombs in Iraq this year, according to a US military spokesman. | The past week has seen the highest number of car bombs and roadside bombs in Iraq this year, according to a US military spokesman. |
| Flight delay | Flight delay |
| Ms Rice, whose last Iraq visit was in April, is expected to use her visit to address the soaring violence and to urge Iraqi leaders to settle their differences. | Ms Rice, whose last Iraq visit was in April, is expected to use her visit to address the soaring violence and to urge Iraqi leaders to settle their differences. |
| The security situation is not one that can be tolerated and it isn't one that has been helped by political inaction Condoleezza Rice href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5403840.stm" class="">Iraq plan 'fails to impress' | |
| "They don't have time for endless debate of these issues," Ms Rice told reporters on the way to Baghdad. | "They don't have time for endless debate of these issues," Ms Rice told reporters on the way to Baghdad. |
| "They have really got to move forward. That is one of the messages that I'll take." | "They have really got to move forward. That is one of the messages that I'll take." |
| The BBC's Jonathan Beale, travelling with Ms Rice, says the military transport plane was delayed by 35 minutes by "indirect fire" in the airport area. | The BBC's Jonathan Beale, travelling with Ms Rice, says the military transport plane was delayed by 35 minutes by "indirect fire" in the airport area. |
| Ms Rice, wearing body armour, was then flown in a convoy of heavily armed US helicopters to the secure Baghdad Green Zone. | Ms Rice, wearing body armour, was then flown in a convoy of heavily armed US helicopters to the secure Baghdad Green Zone. |
| Her visit comes amid confusion over whether the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed during a US military raid. | Her visit comes amid confusion over whether the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed during a US military raid. |
| Iraqi officials are doing DNA tests on a body to determine if it is that of Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. | Iraqi officials are doing DNA tests on a body to determine if it is that of Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. |
| US military sources say it is probably not Muhajir, but they are awaiting confirmation. | US military sources say it is probably not Muhajir, but they are awaiting confirmation. |
| Death squads | Death squads |
| Earlier this week, Mr Maliki unveiled a new security initiative aimed at curbing violence. | Earlier this week, Mr Maliki unveiled a new security initiative aimed at curbing violence. |
| Another bomb blast in Baghdad, as Ms Rice arrived for talks | Another bomb blast in Baghdad, as Ms Rice arrived for talks |
| But the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says the US is concerned at Mr Maliki's apparent unwillingness to take firmer action against Shia militias who are blamed for much of the violence. | But the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says the US is concerned at Mr Maliki's apparent unwillingness to take firmer action against Shia militias who are blamed for much of the violence. |
| The violence continues unabated - a series of bomb blasts ripped through an area south of the capital on Wednesday, killing 13. | The violence continues unabated - a series of bomb blasts ripped through an area south of the capital on Wednesday, killing 13. |
| On the same day, an entire Iraqi police brigade was relieved of duty after accusations of complicity in death squad killings. | On the same day, an entire Iraqi police brigade was relieved of duty after accusations of complicity in death squad killings. |
| US-led coalition spokesman Maj Gen William Caldwell said the brigade, in an area of north-east Baghdad, would undergo retraining. | US-led coalition spokesman Maj Gen William Caldwell said the brigade, in an area of north-east Baghdad, would undergo retraining. |
| "There is clear evidence that there was some complicity in allowing death squad elements to move freely," Gen Caldwell said. | "There is clear evidence that there was some complicity in allowing death squad elements to move freely," Gen Caldwell said. |
| He also said that the explosion of car bombs and roadside booby-traps had reached its highest daily level since the US-led invasion in March 2003. | He also said that the explosion of car bombs and roadside booby-traps had reached its highest daily level since the US-led invasion in March 2003. |
| More than 100 people a day are dying in sectarian violence and the US has been unable to reduce its troop numbers as hoped. | More than 100 people a day are dying in sectarian violence and the US has been unable to reduce its troop numbers as hoped. |
| Ms Rice has been on a lengthy Middle East tour that has included talks in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. | Ms Rice has been on a lengthy Middle East tour that has included talks in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. |