Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq; 11 die in U.S. raid

BAGHDAD -- Egypt sent its foreign minister to Iraq on Sunday for the first time in nearly two decades in a sign of growing Arab acceptance of the country's Shiite-led government.

In the north, 11 people including women and children died during a U.S. raid on a house in Mosul, where an extremist detonated a suicide vest -- a reminder that Iraq still faces security challenges despite the drop in violence.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said his visit was aimed at helping Iraq face its "many challenges," including extremism, violence and sectarian hatred.

The United States has been urging the mostly Sunni-run Arab countries to shore up relations with Shiite-led Iraq as a counterweight to the influence of Shiite-dominated Iran. But the Arabs were reluctant during the height of Shiite-Sunni fighting, which receded last year after the U.S. troop buildup.

U.S. officials are anxious for Iraq to strengthen its ties to the Arab world as Washington prepares do draw down its 140,000 troops next year. U.S. and Iraqi officials are negotiating a security deal with the Iraqis say would see the last American troops leave the country by the end of 2011.

Although violence is down more than 80 percent from early 2007 levels, U.S. military commanders warn that security gains are not irreversible because Sunni and Shiite extremists have been battered but not defeated.

-- AP