Rumsfeld makes surprise visit to Baghdad

Donald Rumsfeld

BAGHDAD - US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sought to show US support for Iraq's new leadership today, making a surprise visit to Baghdad just days after Shi'ite politician Jawad al-Maliki was chosen as prime minister.

Rumsfeld swooped into the capital aboard a military cargo plane for his first visit to Iraq in 2006.

In addition to Iraqi political developments, Rumsfeld's trip comes as US military commanders contemplate reducing the number of American troops in the country in the coming months. There are about 132,000 American troops in Iraq at present.

Rumsfeld indicated earlier this week that the Pentagon intended to stick with plans to reduce the size of the US military presence, but he gave no specific numbers nor a timetable.

Opinion polls show US public support for the three-year-old Iraq war eroding, which is contributing to a drop in President George W Bush's job approval ratings.

Rumsfeld himself has weathered a storm of criticism from six retired generals who have demanded his dismissal, accusing him of disregarding military advice, ruling by intimidation and making strategic blunders in Iraq.

- REUTERS