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Rice visits Iraq's volatile north Rice visits Iraq's volatile north
(about 4 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on an unannounced visit. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made an unannounced visit to the volatile northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.
Ms Rice is trying to encourage Iraqi leaders to seek political reconciliation, US officials said. US officials said she would use her trip to encourage Iraqi leaders to seek political reconciliation.
Correspondents say the Bush administration is frustrated that recent security improvements have not been accompanied by political advances. "It is an important province for the future of Iraq, for a democratic Iraq," she said at talks with local leaders.
Kirkuk is home to a volatile mix of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, all of whom dispute its historical identity. Analysts say the Bush administration is frustrated that recent security gains in the oil-rich region have not been accompanied by political advances.
Ms Rice is expected to meet representatives from each community. Kirkuk is home to a volatile mix of Kurds, Sunni and Shia Arabs and Turkmen, all of whom dispute its historical identity.
'Longstanding logjam' "It truly is the crossing point for every one of Iraq's ethnicities, every one of Iraq's religions and sects," said Ms Rice's leading adviser on Iraq, David Satterfield.
The Kurds want to see the oil-rich province of which Kirkuk is the capital attached to their own autonomous area in the north. "Kirkuk is often identified as a flashpoint for the future of Iraq. We see a logjam being broken here," he said.
Under the Iraqi constitution a referendum on the issue is supposed to take place by the end of this year but preparations have been delayed. Referendum delayed
Ms Rice first visited members of a reconstruction unit in the city and then held talks with provincial politicians, where she underscored recent moves towards unity.
Earlier this month, Sunni Arabs ended a year-long boycott of the provincial government under a deal with Kurdish parties that gave them a more equal share of power.
The Kurds want to see the province of which Kirkuk is the capital attached to their own autonomous area in the north - an idea resisted by many Arabs and Turkmen.
Under the Iraqi constitution, a referendum on the issue was supposed to take place by the end of this year but preparations have been delayed.
Many major divisive issues, such as a law to allocate the country's oil resources, have still not been resolved.Many major divisive issues, such as a law to allocate the country's oil resources, have still not been resolved.
"What is missing here, and what is absolutely necessary over the long term to secure all of this, is political progress," Iraq co-ordinator David Satterfield told reporters travelling with Ms Rice. Ms Rice's visit comes just hours after about 300 Turkish troops reportedly crossed into northern Iraq to target Kurdish separatist rebels.
"We see a longstanding logjam getting broken there," he said. She is expected to hold talks with Iraqi leaders in the capital, Baghdad later on Tuesday.
Ms Rice is later expected to hold talks with Iraqi leaders in the capital, Baghdad.