Biden visits Baghdad

US Vice-President Joe Biden made a previously-unannounced visit to Baghdad yesterday to meet Iraqi leaders and US military commanders just days after US troops withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities.

His visit came at a critical time in US-Iraqi relations. The Obama Administration is putting more pressure on Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish leaders to resolve long-standing disputes over oil revenues and regional boundaries that have stalled political reconciliation.

Mr Biden said he was optimistic about Iraq's future, but much work remained to be done. His three-day visit comes after President Barack Obama appointed him to help coordinate Iraq policy as US officials lay the groundwork for a full withdrawal of US forces by 2012.

In a key step towards that full withdrawal, US troops this week handed over control of urban areas to Iraqi security forces. "This is a moment when we have to make sure that the Iraqis don't take their eyes off the ultimate prize," Mr Biden said.