US State secretary, Condolisa Rice paid a surprise visit to Iraq, Trend reports. Admittedly, she joined the US Defense minister, Donald Rumsfield who arrived to Baghdad earlier, also without announcing his visit. This is his number 12 visit to Iraq since the start of American campaign and first this year.
Both Rice and Rumsfield are expected to hold talks with the newly appointed PM, Javad al-Maliki and other leading Iraqi politicians in order to show support of the American administration to new Iraqi government, Associated Press reports.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon head already met the commander in chief of American troops in Iraq, George Casey, who also expressed support to the new Iraqi government. On the other hand, Casey refused to answer the question about possible reduction of American troops contingent in Iraq directly, RBK reports.