Rumsfeld arrives in Baghdad as violence flares

BAGHDAD, July 12: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in Baghdad today for an unannounced visit to US commanders, said security in Iraq now depends as much on the Iraqi government's political success as on beating the insurgency militarily.

Rumsfeld arrived in Iraq as suicide bombers killed 16 people outside the main entrance of the heavily fortified Green Zone government compound, where he was due to hold his meetings. The attacks also coincided with a parliamentary session at which one lawmaker warned that civil war was close.

''We're at a point now when the security situation depends as much on the reconciliation process and on the strengthening of (government) ministries,'' Rumsfeld told reporters travelling with him. ''Success in those areas will determine the success from a security standpoint.'' ''It's as much a political task as anything,'' he said.

Security in Baghdad was among the main topics Rumsfeld said he wanted to discuss with American military commanders. Violence in the capital has not abated despite a security crackdown that put thousands of extra troops on the streets.

Since parliament last met last week, dozens of people have been killed in Baghdad in bombings and some of the worst attacks yet seen by sectarian gunmen.

Rumsfeld told reporters many parts of Baghdad experience few violent incidents. But the government must persuade people to buy into the reconciliation process to reduce violence, he said.

He gave the same message to U.S. troops at a base in Balad where he stopped before heading to Baghdad by helicopter. One serviceman asked him about growing sectarian violence in Iraq.

''The solution to that is not military,'' he said. ''The solution is a reach-out'' to Sunni Muslims, a minority in mainly Shi'ite Muslim Iraq.

NO TROOP CUTS YET Those challenges leave Iraq unable to take decisions that might allow the United States to reduce its troop levels -- a critical issue for the Bush administration at home where anti-war sentiment and calls for a withdrawal timetable have grown in a congressional election year.

''We haven't gotten to that point,'' Rumsfeld said on troop cuts, noting that US commanders and Iraqi officials must undertake a comprehensive review of needs on the ground before the United States can consider reducing troop levels.

A 129,000-strong American force is serving in Iraq more than three years into the war in which about 2,500 US troops have died.

President George W Bush has said US troops will stay until conditions improve and Rumsfeld has said the government asked Army General George Casey and US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad to work with the Iraqi government to develop a plan ''comfortable'' for both sides.

Rumsfeld would not say today when he expected those discussions might occur or when a plan might emerge.

Rumsfeld said that as well as security in Baghdad, he would discuss the size of Iraqi security forces, the mix of Iraqi police and military personnel, and the reconciliation process.

He said he did not plan to discuss a series of recent accusations and charges against US servicemen of murdering Iraqi civilians.

Those cases, including the murder of 24 unarmed civilians in Haditha and the rape of a teenager and murder of her family, have battered America's image and led senior Iraqi officials to question the immunity US troops have from Iraqi law.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has called for independent inquiries into the Mahmudiya rape and murder case, but Rumsfeld said the cases would be handled by US military officials.

REUTERS