Mortars land near US embassy as Biden visits Iraq

Mortar shells landed near the US Embassy in Baghdad just hours after American Vice-President Joe Biden arrived in the Iraqi capital yesterday but he was unharmed, said a reporter travelling with him.

An Iraqi security official said four mortars landed near the embassy and an AFP journalist on the scene said at least two shells landed around 100 metres from the sprawling site within the international Green Zone.

Fire engines were seen heading to the area but no one from the embassy was available for comment.

A pool reporter travelling with the Vice President confirmed that mortars had landed in the Green Zone and that the signal to take cover had been sounded a couple of times, but Mr Biden "was fine".

Mr Biden's visit, his third trip to Iraq this year, was focused on talks with the conflict-hit nation's political leaders and to meet American troops, US officials said.

The Vice President has been given a special mission by US President Barack Obama to keep a high-level focus on Iraq ahead of the withdrawal of all combat troops from the country by August next year.