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John Kerry on unannounced visit to Iraq Kerry presses Iraq on Iran weapons flights to Syria
(about 5 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Iraq for an unannounced visit to press for greater co-operation over the conflict in Syria. US Secretary of State John Kerry has told Iraq's PM that allowing Iranian planes to use Iraqi air space to carry weapons to Syria was "problematic".
Mr Kerry will urge Iraqi leaders to stop Iranian flights over Iraq carrying arms and fighters for the Syrian government, US officials said. Mr Kerry, on an unannounced trip to Iraq, held talks with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in a bid to boost co-operation over the Syria conflict.
He said Iranian arms were sustaining Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The US has accused Iraq of turning a blind eye to the flights, which Iran claims transport only humanitarian aid.The US has accused Iraq of turning a blind eye to the flights, which Iran claims transport only humanitarian aid.
Mr Kerry is also expected to discuss democratic reforms in Iraq. It is 10 years since the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Mr Kerry's visit comes days after the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The trip is Mr Kerry's first to Iraq since taking office earlier this year, and the first by an American secretary of state since 2009.
It is his first trip to Iraq since taking office earlier this year, and the first by an American secretary of state since 2009. "I made very clear to the prime minister that the overflights from Iran are in fact helping to sustain President Assad and his regime," Mr Kerry told reporters.
One official told the Associated Press that the Iranian flights to Syria were crossing Iraq "close to daily". "I made it very clear that for those of us who are engaged in an effort to see President Assad step down... anything that supports President Assad is problematic."
Iraq said last year it would inspect the flights, but only two planes had been checked, the official said. An unnamed US official earlier told the AP news agency that Iranian planes were flying over Iraq into Syria almost every day.
During his visit, Mr Kerry will also suggest that Iraq's government reconsider a recent decision to delay provincial elections in Anbar and Nineveh provinces, US officials said. The official said Iraq had promised to inspect the flights, but only two planes had been checked since last year.
They said Mr Kerry would also speak by phone with Massoud Barzani, president of the oil-rich, autonomous region of Kurdistan, to stress the importance of maintaining Iraq's unity. The state department said Mr Kerry would also discuss democratic reforms in Iraq.
He was expected to suggest that Iraq's government reconsider a recent decision to delay provincial elections in Anbar and Nineveh provinces.
And he was also expected speak by phone to Massoud Barzani, president of the oil-rich autonomous region of Kurdistan, to stress the importance of maintaining Iraq's unity.