Soon: Clinton in joint press conference with Iraqi FM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today will hold a joint press conference with her Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari, a spokesperson for the U.S. troops in Iraq said. “Clinton arrived this morning in Baghdad and will hold a joint press conference with her Iraqi counterpart later today,” Salam Saeed told IraqiNews.com news agency. The spokesperson did not provide further details. The visit comes at a time when the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, is taking up office. The visit also comes two days after suicide bombings in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities left at least 155 dead. A few weeks ago, U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to withdraw combat troops from Iraqi cities by summer during a visit to Iraq. Before heading to Iraq, Clinton said that the recent escalation in violence in Iraq is a tragic indicator that Iraq is on the right path. SS (P) 1