Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has made a lightning trip to Iraq to visit troops, a government official said this morning.
In his first trip to the region since the US-led attacks on Iraq, Mr Aznar visited Spanish troops stationed at Diwaniya, 180 km south of Baghdad, having arrived overnight from Madrid via Kuwait.
Mr Aznar was expected to lunch with troops before heading back to Spain later on Saturday, a move to boost morale over the Christmas season, a government official said.
Despite strong opposition to the US-led war among the Spanish public, Spain has 1,300 soldiers in Iraq.
Mr Aznar was one the strongest supporters of the US in its campaign to oust former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Spanish forces form part of an international division under Polish command in Shi'ite Muslim areas of south-central Iraq.
Spain suffered its first major combat casualties on November 29th in Latifiya when guerrillas opened fire on two cars carrying Spanish intelligence agents, killing seven.
In the wake of the killings, Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo reaffirmed Spain's commitment to stay in Iraq until peace was restored.
Mr Aznar's trip follows earlier visits to Iraq by US President George W. Bush and Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller.