Bush ending G8 summit with Iraq appeal

George Bush appealed to his big-power allies on today to do more to guide Iraq’s transformation into a stable democracy, saying the “Iraqi people need help” to defend themselves, rebuild their country and hold elections.

The US president’s comments, made after a private meeting with a sceptical French President Jacques Chirac, came as the annual Group of Eight summit of big industrial powers was winding down – without Bush winning any additional commitments from summit partners for help on Iraq.