Rumsfeld in Iraq for Security Talks
12 July 2006
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Baghdad Wednesday for talks with Iraqi and American officials.
Rumsfeld flew into Iraq unannounced after an earlier surprise visit to Afghanistan. The Pentagon chief says he will focus on security issues during his meetings with Iraqi government officials and U.S. military commanders.
Scores of people have been murdered in Baghdad this week in sectarian violence. Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed seven people at a restaurant in eastern Baghdad, and Iraqi security officials say they have found the bodies of 20 bus drivers kidnapped earlier today north of the capital.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has appealed to the country's Shi'ite and Sunni communities to end sectarian strife and "unite as brothers" in the fight against terrorism. Mr. al-Maliki pledged Wednesday that Iraq's security forces will not allow insurgents to take control of western Baghdad.
The prime minister was speaking in parliament minutes after a large group of Sunni deputies rejoined the chamber, ending a lengthy boycott that began when a fellow lawmaker was kidnapped weeks ago. The Sunnis said they have been promised that their colleague will be released soon.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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