WASHINGTON — Barack Obama is considering a visit to Iraq this summer, his first since becoming a presidential candidate.

Obama revealed his plans to The New York Times. He has been under criticism from Republican rival John McCain for failing to visit Iraq since 2006. Obama also declined McCain's invitation for a joint trip, saying he didn't want "to be involved in a political stunt," according to a report yesterday on the newspaper's Web site.

"I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders," he said in the interview. "I'm not there to try to score political points or perform. The work they're doing there is too important."

Obama's campaign has been considering an overseas trip since last year to beef up his foreign policy credentials, but the extended fight for the Democratic nomination with Hillary Rodham Clinton has delayed those plans.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton confirmed that a trip is under consideration, but said no final plans have been made.

OBAMA URGES LANGUAGE STUDIES

THORNTON, Colo. — Democrat Barack Obama said U.S. students must learn a second or even third language or the country will struggle to compete in a global economy.

"We as a society do a really bad job teaching foreign languages, and it is costing us when it comes to being competitive in a global marketplace," the Illinois senator said at a school here yesterday. He said India has a "huge advantage" because most people speak English besides their native language.

Obama speaks a little Spanish and some rusty Indonesian from his childhood, aides said.

"Understand that my starting principle is, everybody should be bilingual or everybody should be trilingual," he said.

CANDIDATES DECRY KILLINGS IN SUDAN

WASHINGTON — In a rare show of bipartisan unity, the three presidential candidates lent their names to a newspaper ad yesterday accusing the Sudanese government of genocide in the Darfur region and urging an end to the violence.

Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Republican nominee-in-waiting Sen. John McCain in signing the ad in The New York Times.

"We stand united and demand that the genocide and violence in Darfur be brought to an end," the ad says, followed by the candidates' signatures. The ad says the candidates also have pledged to seek an end to the violence in Darfur if elected.

It was paid for by the SaveDarfur Coalition.

OBAMA ADDS GUAM SUPERDELEGATE

HAGATNA, Guam — Guam is contributing another superdelegate vote toward Barack Obama's drive to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

Guam Sen. Ben Pangelinan has announced his support for Obama, bringing him within 45 votes of clinching the nomination over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Pangelinan said Obama will help Guam because he supports World War II reparations and is willing to listen to the U.S. territory's political issues.

Pangelinan had remained undecided until Tuesday.

Both political parties include U.S. territories in the nominating process, but territorial citizens cannot vote in the general election.

RICKY MARTIN ENDORSES CLINTON

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Pop star Ricky Martin is backing Hillary Rodham Clinton ahead of Puerto Rico's primary on Sunday. The Grammy-winning singer yesterday said Clinton has shown a commitment to the the Hispanic community.

Clinton recently wrapped up a campaign swing in Puerto Rico and is expected to return tomorrow. Her family has been campaigning there in her absence.