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Rice in Iraq to back 'progress' Rice praises 'progress' in Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has flown to Iraq in an attempt to build on recent reconciliation efforts. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has praised an Iraqi law to reintegrate former Baath party members, saying more reconciliation measures need to follow.
Her trip comes shortly after the Iraqi parliament approved a measure to allow former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public life. Speaking during an unannounced visit to Baghdad, she said reconciliation had moved on "quite remarkably" and that it was a "time of hope" in Iraq.
She is meeting top officials including Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. Ms Rice met top officials in Baghdad, including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
Ms Rice flew to Baghdad on the unannounced visit from Riyadh, where she was accompanying President George W Bush on a tour of the Middle East. She flew to Iraq from Riyadh, where she was accompanying President George W Bush Middle East tour.
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that Mr Bush and Ms Rice had decided that it was a good opportunity to visit Baghdad. Ms Rice briefed the prime minister on the Middle East tour and encouraged him to push through further reconciliation measures, Iraqi officials said.
Ms Rice would "meet with Iraqi officials to build on progress made and to encourage additional political reconciliation and legislative action," he said. She also told him that Mr Bush intends to go ahead with plans to withdraw 20,000-30,000 troops gradually by the middle of this year, Mr Maliki's spokesman told Reuters news agency.
Mr Bush has called the measure to allow minor Baath party officials back into public office an important step towards national reconciliation. 'Spirit of cooperation'
Mr Bush has praised Iraq's decision to allow minor Baath party officials back into public office.
While it has not always moved as fast as some of us sitting in Washington would like, it has certainly moved Condoleezza Rice
The law, approved last week, is one of a series of moves that the US hopes will aid Iraqi reconciliation.
Ms Rice said she had discussed the need to follow up with other measures, including provincial elections and a law to share out Iraqi oil and gas resources.
"There seems to be a spirit of co-operation to move forward," she said at a press conference with Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
"While it has not always moved as fast as some of us sitting in Washington would like, it has certainly moved."
PurgePurge
Saddam Hussein's regime was predominantly Sunni and many figures were removed from government after his fall in 2003, under an edict from ex-US administrator Paul Bremer. Saddam Hussein's regime was predominantly Sunni and many Baath party figures were initially purged from government after his fall in 2003, under an edict from ex-US administrator Paul Bremer.
The army was disbanded, thousands of teachers, university lecturers and civil servants were sacked. Some were later re-instated, and after the Americans handed over power to an Iraqi government in 2004, they urged the Shia-led administration to ease the measures further.
But after the Americans handed over power to an Iraqi government in 2004, they urged the Shia-led administration to ease the measures further in an effort to promote national reconciliation.
Much of the Sunni insurgency is thought to be centred on dismissed military men from the Baathist regime.Much of the Sunni insurgency is thought to be centred on dismissed military men from the Baathist regime.
The legislation has been seen as an attempt by the government to end the sectarian divide between the Shia and Sunni communities. Last week's legislation has been seen as an attempt by the government to end the sectarian divide between the Shia and Sunni communities.
It excludes former Baath members charged with crimes or still sought for them.It excludes former Baath members charged with crimes or still sought for them.
US officials are acutely aware that political progress is lagging behind improvements in the security situation in Iraq, the BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says. But US officials are acutely aware that political progress is lagging behind improvements in the security situation in Iraq, BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says.
Ms Rice is making her visit at a time of new tension between Arabs and Kurds, as Kurdish leaders push for a referendum on the status of the northern city of Kirkuk - which they want as their capital.Ms Rice is making her visit at a time of new tension between Arabs and Kurds, as Kurdish leaders push for a referendum on the status of the northern city of Kirkuk - which they want as their capital.
Arab factions oppose such a vote. Arab groups oppose such a vote.
Earlier an Iraqi minister was quoted as saying that his country would need US help with security until 2018. Long haul
Earlier, an Iraqi minister was quoted as saying that his country would need US help with security for another decade.
Defence Minister Abdul Qadir Obeidi told the New York Times that Iraq would not be able to take responsibility for its internal security until 2012, and would not be able to defend its borders from external threats until 2018.Defence Minister Abdul Qadir Obeidi told the New York Times that Iraq would not be able to take responsibility for its internal security until 2012, and would not be able to defend its borders from external threats until 2018.
Arms sale Also Tuesday, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani said a helicopter from the US-led coalition was to blame for a fire that closed down a major refinery near the southern city of Basra.
Meanwhile President Bush is continuing his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is holding a series of meetings with King Abdullah. Mr Shahristani did not explain how the helicopter could have caused the fire, though helicopters often release flares to ward off ground attacks.
Mr Bush is raising the issue of high oil prices with King Abdullah US and British military spokesmen denied that any coalition helicopters were involved.
Israeli-Palestinian talks, democracy, and Iran's nuclear activities are thought to have featured in the president's initial discussions. Many workers reportedly suffered burns in the incident.
He has also appealed to oil producers to take action over "very high" oil prices.
The White House announced on Monday in conjunction with the trip that it intended to go ahead with a major sale of sensitive military technology to Saudi Arabia.
The laser-guided bomb technology sale is worth $123m (£63m), part of a long-awaited US arms package for Gulf Arab allies worth $20bn.
On Tuesday Mr Bush is due to visit the Saudi king's horse farm with its Arabian stallions on Tuesday - the US president has hosted the Saudi monarch at his own ranch in Texas in the past.