Rice makes surprise Iraq visit

As her visit got underway, the discovery of more bodies and a new string of attacks in Iraq underlined the severity of a security situation that has seen hundreds killed this month alone.

Rice arrived in the northern Kurdish city of Arbil on a C-17 military plane from Qatar. She had flown from Washington in utter secrecy, with only a few aides informed of the trip.

"I've been looking forward for some time to an opportunity to get to Iraq," Rice told a trio of reporters accompanying her on the top secret visit.

The secretary of state flew immediately to Salahuddin, near Arbil, where she was to meet with the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, in a convoy of Blackhawk helicopters with Apache escorts.

Rice also was slated to meet with Iraq Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari and senior cabinet members at 3:00 pm (1100 GMT) in Baghdad before holding a press conference.

Rice, on her first visit to the country as secretary of state, said she wanted to look at the security situation in Iraq, the political process, and Iraqi efforts to develop the country's infrastructure and economy.

She signalled concern over the lack of significant participation by minority Sunni Muslims in a new committee set up to draft a constitution, which is dominated by majority Shiites -- only two of its 55 members are Sunni Muslims.

"I think it is something that I would like to discuss with the leadership, the composition of that committee, and how (...) they can ensure that there is participation of all Iraqis, including Sunnis, in this process."