BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AN EXPLOSION rocked central Baghdad on Monday, minutes after US Vice-President Dick Cheney arrived in the Iraqi capital on a surprise visit.

The blast occurred around 9am (0600 GMT), about 45 minutes after Mr Cheney touched down in Baghdad.

Earlier, a roadside bombing targeting a police patrol killed one policeman and wounded another in Baghdad's western Al-Mansur neighbhourood, a security official said.

Mr Cheney was expected to meet with the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and the US ambassador, Ryan Crocker, as well as hold talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi political figures.

The unheralded visit came as Mr Cheney opened a nine-day visit to the Middle East and beyond, with scheduled stops in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank, and Turkey.