U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney says he has pressed Iraqi leaders to make progress on pending security and political issues.
Cheney also says Iraqi leaders have expressed a greater urgency in meeting economic, political and security goals.
The vice president spoke Wednesday after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi and U.S. officials during an unannounced visit to Baghdad.
An explosion rocked the building in the heavily fortified Green Zone where Cheney was working during his visit. But his spokeswoman says the vice president's business was not disrupted.
Cheney's trip to Iraq is part of a Middle East tour that is expected to take him to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
In Irbil in Iraq's largely quiet Kurdish region, a truck bomb killed at least 14 people and wounded at least 87. Near Kirkuk, gunmen killed four Iraqi journalists.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military says family members will be allowed to visit five Iranians detained in Iraq earlier this year. Iran denies U.S. charges the men were supporting militants in Iraq. U.S. officials say the five are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, but Iran says the men are diplomats.
The U.S. military says one American soldier died and four were wounded by gunfire Tuesday in restive Diyala province.
Cheney also says Iraqi leaders have expressed a greater urgency in meeting economic, political and security goals.
The vice president spoke Wednesday after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi and U.S. officials during an unannounced visit to Baghdad.
An explosion rocked the building in the heavily fortified Green Zone where Cheney was working during his visit. But his spokeswoman says the vice president's business was not disrupted.
Cheney's trip to Iraq is part of a Middle East tour that is expected to take him to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
In Irbil in Iraq's largely quiet Kurdish region, a truck bomb killed at least 14 people and wounded at least 87. Near Kirkuk, gunmen killed four Iraqi journalists.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military says family members will be allowed to visit five Iranians detained in Iraq earlier this year. Iran denies U.S. charges the men were supporting militants in Iraq. U.S. officials say the five are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, but Iran says the men are diplomats.
The U.S. military says one American soldier died and four were wounded by gunfire Tuesday in restive Diyala province.