Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, on an unscheduled visit to Iraq, has cautioned against large troop cuts, saying that they could jeopardise recent security gains.

 

"It would be a mistake now to be so eager to draw down the force that we risk putting the outcome in jeopardy," he said in Baghdad on Monday after meeting the Iraqi prime minister.

"It's especially significant, I think, to be able to return this week as we mark the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the campaign that liberated the people of Iraq from Saddam Hussein's tyranny, and launched them on the difficult but historic road to democracy."

"But as we move forward, the Iraqi people should know that they will have the unwavering support of President Bush and the United States in consolidating their democracy."

 

 

Cheney praised the Iraqi government's legislative successes, but during his meeting with Nuri al-Maliki he also pointed to the items left unfinished.

 

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He acknowledged that there remains much difficult work to be done in Iraq, where 160,000 American troops are deployed and the US death toll is near 4,000.

 

Iraq was not on Cheney's announced schedule for a 10-day Middle East trip that includes stops in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Turkey.

 

 

Cheney's visit comes as Iraq's sectarian factions are meeting amid concern that insufficient progress has been made on the path to reconciliation.

 

The two-day national unity conference began in Baghdad on Tuesday.

 

Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman, said the gathering aimed to achieve "security, reconstruction and complete sovereignty".

 

"Different political leaders will be present and the conference will aim to activate the role of different groups in the political process for positive contribution and national reconciliation," he said.