BAGHDAD - Car bombs killed 23 people in Baghdad and three other Iraqi cities on Wednesday but U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that a secure, stable country was within reach.
A car bomb near a Shi'ite mosque in central Baghdad killed 15 people and wounded 33 as they gathered for evening prayers, making it the city's deadliest bombing since September.
Gunfire could be heard and black smoke rose over the area after the blast in the mainly Shi'ite Karrada district, just across the Tigris River from where Gates met Iraqi officials in the heavily fortified "Green Zone" compound.
An al Qaeda affiliated group warned this week of a renewed campaign of car bomb attacks.
Despite the day's bloodshed, overall attacks across Iraq have fallen to their lowest level in nearly two years.
"More than ever, I believe that the goal of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq is within reach," Gates told a news conference less than an hour after the blast.
"We need to be patient. We also need to be absolutely resolved in our desire to see the nascent signs of hope across Iraq expand and flourish so that all Iraqis can enjoy peace and prosperity."
On an unannounced visit, Gates urged the Shi'ite-led government to integrate mainly Sunni Arab neighbourhood patrol units into its army and police. Washington credits the 60,000-strong neighbourhood patrol forces with helping to reduce violence.
"Iraqis who have chosen to fight al Qaeda need to be integrated into Iraq's security forces or provided other job opportunities," he said.
Earlier on Wednesday the government took a step in that direction, announcing it would put 45,000 of the patrol members on its payroll by the middle of 2008.
