Rice pays surprise visit to Iraq

BAGHDAD, Oct 5 (Reuters) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew into Baghdad today for a previously unannounced visit, Iraqi officials said.

Rice has been on a tour of the West Asia, having already visited Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. She was likely to hold meetings with Iraqi government officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

US officials have been putting pressure on Maliki's Shi'ite-led government to reign in militias blamed for much of the sectarian violence ravaging the country.

Washington has made the training of Iraqi security forces the focus of hopes to start withdrawing 140,000 US troops.

Iraq has taken centre stage in mid-term US elections due next month in which US President George W Bush's Republicans are battling to keep control of both houses of Congress. The unpopular war in Iraq has sapped Bush's popularity and voters are looking for a viable exit strategy.

REUTERS PB PM1925