Rice visits Iraq, urges reconciliation - Video

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Saturday even as US and Iraqi troops make initial gains in an offensive seen as a final push to end sectarian bloodshed that threatens to tear Iraq apart.

Rice lauded early progress in a military operation against militants in Baghdad, but said Iraqis had to use this "breathing space" to push ahead with reconciliation.

Rice also said it was too early to judge the results of the much-vaunted but slow-to-start Baghdad security plan. But she said she was encouraged by initial government steps to at least promote the plan.

Rice met Prime Minister Nour al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.