Baghdad/Washington  - US President George Bush arrived in Iraq Sunday on a previously unannounced visit - his last to that country before his presidency formally ends next month.

The White House confirmed that Bush had landed aboard Air Force One in Baghdad, US media reported.

On Saturday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates - who is to stay in office when Barack Obama takes over as US president - said in a speech to US troops in Iraq that their mission was in its "endgame".

In an aearlier address to the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, Gates had urged Gulf countries to include Iraq in the Gulf Cooperation Council and forgive Baghdad's debts. (dpa)