ERBIL, Iraq - Stephen Harper got to see the no man's land of northern Iraq for himself on Saturday, paying a surprise visit to Baghdad and the capital of the Kurdish regional authority in Erbil, but also delivering over $167 million in aid and security equipment promises.

He also faced questions about whether Canadian special forces soldiers have curtailed trips to the frontline in the aftermath of a friendly fire death almost two months ago.

The prime minister said he wasn't going to talk about operational details and suggested the two sides are trying to move on from the painful episode which saw Canadian and Kurdish officials pointing fingers at one another over Sgt. Andrew Doiron's shooting death.

"It was a terrible tragedy," said Harper, who indicated that he had not yet read the report into the confused nighttime shooting.

"We'll get the facts, but let it not obscure, frankly, the respect I think we should have for the Kurdish fighters in this area. Back last summer w