Condoleezza Rice in Iraq for surprise visit

April 20, 2008 

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Baghdad's Green Zone for a previously unannounced visit to Iraq. 
Yesterday Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened an "open war" against the current Iraqi government unless they stopped their operations against his Mahdi Army. In response to this, a US-Iraqi coalition clashed with his forces in Baghdad and to the south. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has also threatened to ban al-Sadr and his supporters from political life if they continue to use militias. 
Miss Rice hopes to see more reconciliation of the various factions in Iraq. She praised al-Maliki's work, saying that she has seen a "coalescing of a centre in Iraqi politics".
Condoleezza Rice in Iraq for surprise visit April 20 , 2008 United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Baghdad 's Green Zone for a previously unannounced visit to Iraq . Yesterday Shia cleric Muqtada al - Sadr threatened an " open war " against the current Iraqi government unless they stopped their operations against his Mahdi Army . In response to this , a US - Iraqi coalition clashed with his forces in Baghdad and to the south . Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al - Maliki has also threatened to ban al - Sadr and his supporters from political life if they continue to use militias . Miss Rice hopes to see more reconciliation of the various factions in Iraq . She praised al - Maliki 's work , saying that she has seen a " coalescing of a centre in Iraqi politics " .
Condoleezza Rice
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