US President George W Bush landed in Iraq on Monday for a surprise visit along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and national security adviser Steven Hadley, the White House said.

Bush landed at Al-Asad Air Force base, west of Baghdad in Anbar province, the White House said.

The stopover in Iraq had not been announced previously by the White House.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates also flew into western Iraq later to be with President Bush, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Bush and Gates were expected to meet their top military commanders in Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. - Reuters