Western tourists visit Iraq
The first officially sanctioned Western tour group since 2003 is visiting Iraq in the latest sign of improved security.
The eight tourists - including Britons and Americans - said they felt safe but did not have enough to see because many facilities remain closed.
The tour was arranged by a British organisation and included stops in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and the ancient ruins of Babylon and Ur.
The group even visited the site of the destroyed golden domed shrine in Samarra, where a 2006 bombing triggered months of sectarian violence.
The group plans to leave on Sunday after a 15-day tour.