Barack Obama on tour

Berlin; July 24: Obama gestures during his speech in front of the Victory Column Photograph: Michael Kappler/AFP

Berlin; July 24: The Illinois senator greets his supporters as he arrives to deliver his speech Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Berlin; July 24: Obama arrives at the German chancellery for talks with the chancellor, Angela Merkel Photograph: Jens Meyer/AP

Berlin; July 24: Angela Merkel welcomes Obama at the start of the European leg of his week-long international tour Photograph: Steffen Kugler/AFP

Tel Aviv, Israel; July 24: Obama speaks to reporters on his plane at Ben Gurion international airport before taking off for Berlin Photograph: Jim Young /Reuters

Tel Aviv; July 24: Obama waves as he boards his campaign plane Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Jerusalem; July 23: Obama shakes hands with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert Photograph: David Furst/AFP

Jerusalem; July 23: Flanked by the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak (l) and the foreign affairs minister, Tzipi Livni, Obama walks towards a helicopter for an aerial tour of Jerusalem Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Jerusalem, Israel; July 23: Barack Obama rekindles the eternal flame in the hall of remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Ramallah, West Bank; July 22: Palestinian artist Walid Ayyub makes the final touches on a portrait of Obama at his shop Photograph: Abbas Momani/AFP

Amman, Jordan; July 22: Obama is accompanied by Senator Jack Reed, conservation architect May Shaer and Senator Chuck Hagel as they walk through the Amman Citadel, an ancient Roman landmark Photograph: Salah Malkawi/Getty

Amman, July 22: Obama, flanked by Senator Jack Reed (l) and Senator Chuck Hagel, speaks during a news conference at the citadel Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Amman, July 22: Obama speaks with Jordan's King Abdullah before departing Queen Alia international airport Photograph: Jim Young /Reuters

Ramadi, Iraq; July 22: Obama talks with a tribal leader through a translator during a meeting with tribal sheikhs of Anbar Province Photograph: Erin Kirk/AFP

Basra, Iraq; July 21: Obama talks to Lieutenant Rich Henderson, 24, and Highlander Williams, 24, of 4 Scots, during a short visit to the contingency operating base Photograph: Jannine B Hartmann/MoD/PA

Baghdad, Iraq, July 21: US commander General David Petraeus greets Obama on his arrival at Baghdad airport Photograph: Lorie Jewell/U.S. Army /Reuters

Baghdad, July 21: At a briefing in Iraq with Petraeus and the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker Photograph: Lorie Jewell/U.S. Army /Getty

Baghdad, July 21: With Petraeus during an aerial tour over the Iraqi capital Photograph: Lorie Jewell/U.S. Army/Getty

Baghdad, July 21: Obama is received by Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani (second from right) Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Reuters

Baghdad, July 21: Obama meets the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki Photograph: Thaier al-Sudani-Pool/Getty

Baghdad, July 21: Obama with the Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh (l) and US ambassador Crocker Photograph: Thaier al-Sudani-Pool/Getty

Kabul, Afghanistan; July 20: Obama walks with the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai Photograph: Ho/AFP

Kabul, July 20: Obama meets a soldier during a breakfast visit to Camp Eggers Photograph: US Army/AP

Afghanistan, July 19: Obama, Hagel and Reed outside Bagram airbase Photograph: US Army/AP

Kuwait, July 18: Major General Charles Anderson shows Obama a Humvee at Camp Arifjan Photograph: Sgt Jarod Perioniemi/US Army/AP

Kuwait, July 18: With US service personnel at Camp Arifjan Photograph: Sgt Jarod Perioniemi/US Army/AP