Rumsfeld swoops into Baghdad

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Baghdad today and praised the work of Iraqis who are stepping forward to help keep peace in their country.

Details of Rumsfeld’s visit were kept a closely guarded secret for security reasons.

He arrived today from Kuwait and helicoptered to the headquarters of the 10th Armoured Calvary Regiment east of Baghdad.

It was his fourth trip to the region since the US-led coalition ousted Saddam Hussein last spring.

Rumsfeld met with four young members of Iraq’s new security forces and told them he was impressed with the progress they were making.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Iraqis take over the responsibility for the security of your country,” he told them.

At the 10th Armoured headquarters, US officers briefed Rumsfeld on continuing efforts to turn more and more to Iraqi police and civilian defence agencies as the primary providers of security in Iraq, while decreasing the visible American presence.

An estimated 200,000 Iraqis have joined the various Iraqi security services in the last several months despite a strong attacks that have killed more than 300 Iraqis in recent weeks.

The latest attack in Kirkuk today came as Rumsfeld was making a round of visits.

Earlier in Kuwait, Rumsfeld met briefly with the prime minister, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

Rumsfeld’s tour also will take him to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, his third visit in two years in the Uzbek capital.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said he also plans visits to neighbouring Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.