BAGHDAD, July 21 U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama flew to Iraq on Monday to get a first-hand look at security conditions in the country, where violence is at its lowest since early 2004.

His visit thrusts U.S. strategy in Iraq and troop levels to the centre-stage of the November election race between the first-term senator from Illinois and Republican candidate John McCain. There are more than 140,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq.