Rice and Straw step up pressure to break Iraq talks stalemate

THE United States and British foreign ministers made a surprise trip to Iraq yesterday in a bid to persuade the country's leaders to end nearly four months of wrangling and form a new government.

The diplomats' visit comes amid growing pressure on Iraq Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to step aside as the Shi'ite nominee for a second term to break the stalemate on forming a new government.

Talks among Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders have stalled, in part because of opposition to Mr al-Jaafari's nomination by the Shi'ite bloc. On Saturday, Shi'ite politician Qassim Dawoud joined Sunnis and Kurds in urging a new Shi'ite nominee, the first time a Shi'ite figure has issued such a public call.

"The prime minister can be a national hero by announcing his withdrawal," Mr Dawoud said.

He raised the possibility Mr al-Jaafari's opponents within the Shi'ite alliance could name an alternative candidate if the prime minister did not withdraw.

"We're going to urge the negotiations be wrapped up," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after she and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw flew overnight to Baghdad for meetings with the interim government and ethnic and religious power brokers.

Sectarian violence continued throughout the weekend of their visit. Insurgents blew up a Shi'ite mosque north-east of Baghdad, while police said nearly 40 bodies were found in Baghdad on Saturday.

The bodies Baghdad were handcuffed and had been shot in the head or chest, apparently victims of revenge killings between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.

In Baqouba, 35 miles north-east of Baghdad, the Guba Shi'ite mosque was bombed. No casualties were reported.

A US Apache helicopter crashed in south-west Baghdad on Saturday. It was believed to have been shot down and the two crew were presumed dead.

Mr Straw said the choice of leaders is up to Iraqis alone. But neither he nor Ms Rice disguised the blunt nature of their mission.

"We will be urging the Iraqi leaders we see to press ahead more quickly," Mr Straw said.

A statement released by President Jalal Talabani's office said he discussed "the efforts exerted by the representatives of the political blocs" with Rice and Straw.

Ms Rice and Mr Straw's trip comes at a time when US officials in Iraq have expressed increasing impatience with the slow pace of government talks following the December 15 elections.

US officials believe the formation of a government of national unity would help calm the insurgency and restore order three years after the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. That would enable the US and its coalition partners to begin withdrawing troops.