By Suzanne Presto
Irbil, Iraq
Presumptive U.S. Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama is in Baghdad, his first visit to Iraq since 2006. The visit is considered part of Senator Obama’s attempts to boost his foreign policy credentials before the presidential election in November. VOA’s Suzanne Presto reports from the northern city of Irbil.
Senator Barack Obama’s visit to Iraq gives the Illinois senator a chance to see first-hand the security conditions in the country. It also gives him an opportunity to assess possibilities for the U.S. role in Iraq beyond 2008 - a central campaign issue in the U.S. presidential election.
Obama held separate meetings with Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki.