www.atlasdirect.net travelinsurance.co.uk offers convenient high value cover at low prices. Visit us for an online quote and instant cover. Children under 18 insured for free.

Robert Gates arrived in the middle-eastern country today to impress upon its leaders that the US wants to see quicker steps towards securing peace.

His arrival in Iraq came hours after a suicide bomber killed at least 12 people in Baghdad; two British soldiers died in the Maysaan province; and a day after one of the deadliest 24 hours in the Iraqi capital.

Earlier this week Mr Gates said that the consequences of not securing peace in Iraq "will adversely affect the security and prosperity of every nation in the Middle East and the Gulf region".

This is cache, read story here