President Bush's top defense and diplomatic aides were encouraged by the grit of Iraq's newly selected leader but the Americans' itinerary on their second day of an unannounced visit underscored the difficulties ahead for U.S. forces and the emerging Iraqi government.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, center, speaks to the press as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, left, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad look on after morning meetings at the U.S. Embassy Annex in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, April 27, 2006. Rice and Rumsfeld are in Baghdad to meet with U.S. officials and in support of the new Iraqi government officials. [AP]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld began his day Thursday with a briefing on the latest programs and technologies to counter increasingly sophisticated roadside bombs that are a prime killer of U.S. forces in Iraq.

He and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later heard from U.S. diplomats advising Iraq's troubled Interior Ministry, which oversees security and police forces that are hobbled by corruption and riven by sectarian loyalties.

The double-barreled show of support from Rumsfeld and Rice for Iraq's first permanent democratic government was meant to resonate in Iraq and among Americans, whose frustration with the war effort has helped drive Bush's poll numbers to new lows.

Rumsfeld said the first step in regaining momentum after a four-month political deadlock in Iraq will be setting up and staffing competent government ministries and continuing to build stronger Iraqi security forces.

"The impression that the people of this country will have of the government will be the impression that Secretary Rice and I garnered from our meetings," Rumsfeld said Thursday.

"They are serious people and they recognize the difficulties of the task they are facing. They intend to get about he task of governing this country in a responsible way."

Rice called the new leadership determined and focused.

The pair held back-to-back sessions with Iraq's seven newly selected leaders, capped by a dinner Wednesday night of Middle Eastern mezze, fish and fattoush salad at the residence of the U.S. ambassador, Zalmay Zhalilzad.

Khalilzad had pushed hard on the country's squabbling factions to resolve a four-month political stalemate that sapped Iraqi and American confidence following the emotional high of successful Iraqi elections in December.

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