US President George W Bush warned on Tuesday that he would hold Iran responsible if it hit American ships and warned the Islamic Republic not to behave provocatively in Gulf waters. “If they hit our ships, we will hold Iran responsible,” Bush told a small group of journalists. “They’d better be careful and not be provocative.”

Rice makes surprise visit

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew to Baghdad on Tuesday, the White House said. Rice’s trip, which was not previously announced. At a press conference with the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, Rice praised the law, and said Iraq was making progress on both security and political reconciliation.