Bush visits Iraq, signs security pact

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-15-2008 13:30

US President George W. Bush made a surprise farewell visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, just 37 days before he hands over to President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to end the war there.

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) meets with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani at Salam Palace in Baghdad. (AFP/Pool/Mohammed Jalil)

He also faced trouble of an unusual kind when a correspondent for an Iraqi-owned TV station threw his shoes at the President in protest.

After flying secretly from Baghdad to Kabul overnight, Bush went into talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday to assure him that Washington will stand by the war-torn country despite a transition of power at the White House.

In Baghdad, Bush met his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani and other top Iraqi officials. He also addressed U.S.troops stationed there.

Bush said the war in Iraq has been hard, but has been necessary to protect the US and give Iraqis hope for a peaceful future.

Bush also signed a security pact with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, outlining a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Under the plan, the U.S. troops will pull out of Iraqi cities and towns by the end of June next year and withdraw from Iraq by 2012.