U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates paid an unannounced visit to Iraq on Sunday, the official al-Iraqiya TV reported.
The broadcaster did not give more details.
The U.S. military in Iraq said Gates was here to meet senior Coalition officials without elaborating. Gates told reporters traveling with him that there were progress in Iraq's reconciliation efforts over the past weeks, and he would told Iraqi political leaders that the U.S. wants them to keep the momentum to make further achievement.
Last month, the Iraqi parliament passed a law, easing restrictions on taking government jobs by members of former president Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The legislation is among the 18 benchmarks for reconciliation set by the U.S. for Iraqi leaders.
The Shiite-led government has also approved an amnesty bill which would free a lot of Iraqi detainees, mainly Sunnis, who have not been charged.
However, other key legislation, such as provincial election and oil wealth distribution, are under heated debate.
Gate also expected to meet David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. force in Iraq. He reportedly said that their conversation will cover planned withdrawal of U.S. troops in the first half of this year.
The U.S. would cut back on the military presence in Iraq from the current about 160,000 troops to some 130,000 by July.
Petraeus expected to report to the Congress in April about the latest Iraqi security situation. At that time, he could also make proposal as for whether further withdrawal should immediately follow.
Earlier, U.S. President George W. Bush has suggested that he would like to see a pause of pullout of troops. Despite recent security gains, U.S. military officers warn that al-Qaida in Iraq remains capable of staging major attacks.
This is Gates' seventh trip to Iraq. His last visit was on Dec.5 last year.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article