US and Iraqi leaders in crisis talks in Jordan

The US President has arrived in Jordan ahead of talks with the Iraqi leader. George W Bush and Nuri al-Maliki will be looking for ways to rescue the country from its descent into bloodshed and turmoil. Washington says it has confidence in the Iraqi prime minister and wants to strengthen his position but misgivings about his leadership were clear in a memo written by the American national security advisor.

Earlier Maliki spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah who, like other Sunni Arab leaders, fears rising Iranian influence in Iraq and the region. Bush, too, is under growing pressure to change course on Iraq. He says he will discuss a range of issues with Maliki, including US efforts to transfer more responsibility to Iraqi security forces. The US military plans to move more troops into Baghdad in a further bid to secure the Iraqi capital.

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