Obama arrives in Afghanistan

US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, a spokesman said today.

The trip is the first stop on a campaign-season tour of war zones.

Less than four months before the general election, Obama’s first visit to Afghanistan, with a subsequent stop in Iraq, was rich with political implications. The Illinois senator flew as part of an official congressional delegation.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama arrived in Kabul at about 7.15am (8.15am).

Rival John McCain has criticised Obama for his lack of time in the region. The Republican National Committee had a running ticker tallying the more than 900 days since his last visit to Iraq.