Reed returns from Mideast trip with Obama

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jack Reed has returned to Washington from his six-day Middle East trip with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

The Rhode Island Democrat and Nebraska's Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel were in the delegation accompanying Obama during stops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan.

The two-day stop in Iraq included talks with Iraqi leaders on possible troop withdrawal initiatives and briefings from top U.S. military commanders.

A Reed spokesman said the senator arrived in Washington early Wednesday evening.

Reed serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hagel is an anti-war Republican. Both are military veterans and potential vice presidential picks for Obama.