U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has made a surprise visit to Iraq for talks with U.S. and Iraqi authorities trying to quell an insurgency that has claimed 400 lives so far this month.
Ms. Rice arrived under tight security early Sunday in northern Iraq, where she met with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. She then flew to Baghdad, for meetings with government leaders and U.S. commanders.
Meanwhile, authorities say the bound bodies of 13 people shot execution-style have been found in Baghdad. Eleven others killed in a similar fashion were found near Latifiyah.
Separately, gunmen shot and killed two government workers as they drove to work in Baghdad. To the north, police say at least four people were killed and 20 others wounded in bomb blasts in Baquba.
The attacks were apparently aimed at a provincial governor, who escaped unharmed.
Information for this report is provided by AP and Reuters.