Bush national security adviser in Baghdad for talks

BAGHDAD, Oct 30 (Reuters) President George W Bush's national security adviser Stephen Hadley took an unannounced trip to Baghdad for talks with leaders of the Iraqi government and US military to assess the situation on the ground today, as the American death toll climbed to 100 for October.

Hadley met with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki following strains between his Shi'ite-led government and US officials over political and security steps intended to restore stability to Iraq and allow US troops to withdraw.

Hadley's trip had been planned for at least a couple of months and did not spring from current developments, said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.

''This has been a long-planned trip'' aimed at receiving an assessment on the political, economic and security fronts, he said. ''This is really a meeting to discuss the current situation on the ground and the best way ahead.'' Iraq plans to ask the UN Security Council to extend the mandate governing the presence of US-led forces in Iraq for another year, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said. The existing UN mandate expires on December 31.

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