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Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad, Meets Maliki


President Bush -- during a surprise visit to Baghdad -- has pledged his support for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his government.

Mr. Bush told Mr. Maliki that the future of Iraq is in his hands, but that the United States will keep its word to help Iraq.

Prime Minister Maliki told Mr. Bush his government is determined to succeed and defeat the terrorists.

After his talks, Mr. Bush met with U.S. troops in Iraq and thanked them for their service. The president said the U.S. will continue to help build a free Iraq, and to hunt down people like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- the al-Qaida in Iraq leader killed last week in a U.S. airstrike.

Mr. Bush is now on his way home. This was Mr. Bush's second visit to Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Officials say Mr. Maliki was only told of the visit five minutes before he met the U.S. president.

In an interview with VOA Kurdish Service, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said Mr. Bush's visit was a "very significant" statement of support for the Iraqi government and a gesture of defiance to the terrorists.

Before the trip was made public, Mr. Bush had been expected to meet by video conference with Iraqi leaders on Tuesday from his retreat in Maryland outside Washington, D.C.

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