Differences between the Iraqi Governing Council and US authorities over who should be the country’s new president stalled a final agreement on the make-up of an interim government to take power on June 30.

Iraqis are ready to “take the training wheels off” and assume political power from the US-led coalition, President George Bush said as his administration began to outline a rough plan for the June 30 transition of authority.

Four American soldiers died in two bomb explosions in Baghdad, the U.S.-led coalition said today.