US president George W Bush has made an unannounced visit to Baghdad just weeks before he hands over the presidency to Barack Obama.

Bush held talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani before meeting prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Bush’s trip follows approval of a security pact that paves the way for US forces to withdraw by the end of 2011.

But it was greeted with cynicism by local residents: “His visit shows that he failed militarily, economically and politically,” said one man. “Iraq is Muslim and peace-loving,” he added.

“Bush occupies the country. So he comes and goes as he wishes. What does his visit to the country mean? It means he occupies the country,” said another man.

Though Iraq has slipped down the list of Americans’ concerns, polls show most people think the war was a mistake.

About 140,000 US troops are still in Iraq six years
after the war started.

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