US vice-president in Iraq visit

Mr Biden will discuss Iraq's political progress, the White House says

US Vice-President Joe Biden has made an unannounced trip to Iraq to visit US troops and meet the nation's leaders.

Speaking in Baghdad, he said he was optimistic about Iraq's future but much work remained, Reuters reported.

The visit comes just days after US forces completed their pullout from Iraq's cities, handing security duties over to Iraqi forces.

It is Mr Biden's second trip to Iraq this year and his first since becoming vice-president.

A White House statement said Mr Biden would meet President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai.

The statement said Mr Biden would reiterate Washington's commitment to carry out President Barack Obama's plans to fully withdraw combat forces.

Mr Biden will also discuss the political progress needed to ensure Iraq's long-term stability, the statement said.

Iraqis this week celebrated the US troop withdrawal.

However it was also marked on Tuesday by a car bomb attack in the northern city of Kirkuk that killed at least 27 people.