Middle East News

1stLEAD: Clinton in Iraq for US troop withdrawal talks

Apr 25, 2009, 10:33 GMT

Baghdad- US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Iraq Saturday for talks which local officials said would include US troop withdrawal from cities. Clinton's trip - her first to Iraq as secretary of state - was unannounced in advance, and comes after 48 hours of suicide bombings in Baghdad and elsewhere which have left at least 155 dead. 'The visit will tackle several issues, including the withdrawal of US troops from cities, the readiness of Iraqi forces to take over security duties, and the recent deterioration in the security situation in Baghdad,' Iraqi parliamentarian Abdulbari Zebari told Voices of Iraq news agency. The political situation and the economic support provided by Washington to Iraq are also on the agenda, Zebari added. Clinton's visit also comes as the new US ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, is taking up his office. President Barack Obama vowed to withdraw US combat troops from Iraqi cities by summer during a recent visit to Iraq. Before heading to Baghdad, Clinton said that the recent escalation in violence in Iraq is a tragic indicator that Iraq is on the right path. Clinton is expected to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, her counterpart Hoshyar Zebari, and the top US commander in Iraq General Raymond Odierno.

Middle East News

1stLEAD: Clinton in Iraq for US troop withdrawal talks

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