Rice pays surprise visit to Iraqe
May 16, 2005

By ASSOCIATED PRESS:

Under heavy guard on a surprise visit, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iraq's new government realizes it must move quickly to write a constitution that reflects the full spectrum of ethnic and religious groups.

Acknowledging the recent increase in deadly attacks, she said the insurgency can be beaten not just by force but also by "a political alternative that is strong."

The trip Sunday was a closely kept secret even at the State Department and among Iraqi leaders. It showed both the importance that US officials place on the success of the Iraqi government and the dangerous reality in the country two years after the American-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

"Obviously there is a security situation ... but look, I want and have wanted to go to Iraq at the right time and the right time is when they had a new government," Rice said en route to the region.

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