Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington for talks on the situation in war-torn Iraq.
Mr. Zebari and Ms. Rice told reporters Wednesday after the meeting the United States is committed to completing its mission in Iraq and, in Mr. Zebari`s words, "standing by the Iraqi people."
On Tuesday, Mr. Zebari spoke at United Nations headquarters in New York, praising the work of U.S.-led troops to combat insurgent attacks in the country.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has warned Iraq`s neighbors not to offer medical aid or haven to insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He says any such effort would be associating with al-Qaida.
In Iraq, a suicide bomber blew up his car at a checkpoint near Baghdad International Airport, wounding 15 civilians.