Obama: bridging gap with Muslims

Updated on 07 April 2009

US President Barack Obama makes a surprise visit to Baghdad after wrapping up his European tour in Turkey.

Obama had earlier told a group of Turkish students that he is "deeply committed to rebuilding a relationship between the United States and the people of the Muslim world."

He made the comments at a town hall this morning after touring two of the country's historic and architectural treasures.

Barack Obama flew afterwards to Baghdad to meet senior commanders and Iraqi politicians on an unannounced visit at the end of his European tour.

The president was greeted warmly by American soldiers as he thanked them for their work under White House plans. All US forces are due to leave by the end of 2011.

But the visit comes amid growing violence in Iraq. 37 people died yesterday in what appeared to be a co-ordinated series of bombings in Baghdad - and there was a further explosion today - killing nine people