Bush: Iraq and Lebanon top of agenda

US President George Bush today said that a plan to bolster Iraqi security forces in Baghdad will better address the violence there as he pledged to be a “strong partner” with Iraq’s new democratic government.

“Obviously the violence in Baghdad is still terrible,” Bush said during a joint White House news conference with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki.

Bush had praised Maliki’s signature programme to reduce violence during their last meeting in Baghdad in June.

Bush praised the beleaguered leader for what he describes as his courage and perseverance in the face of sectarian violence. Recent violence has sapped political support for the more than three-year-old war in Iraq in both the US and Iraq.

“He comes wondering whether or not we are committed. He hears all kinds of things coming out of the United States,” Bush said. “And I assured him that this government stands by the Iraqi people.”

Standing beside Bush during his first visit to Washington as prime minister, Maliki reiterated his call for an immediate end to hostilities between the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Israel.

“I also emphasised the importance of immediate cease-fire and call on international community to support the Lebanese government, to support the Lebanese people to overcome the damage and destruction that happened,” Maliki said.

The Bush administration opposes an immediate ceasefire, which Bush says would only lead to more violence in the future.

“I told him Maliki I support a sustainable cease-fire that will bring about an end to violence,” Bush said.

Bush added that he is concerned about Lebanese civilians killed and harmed by the Israeli assault.

Israel says it is targeting what is calls terrorist strongholds in Hezbollah-controlled neighbourhoods and towns.

On Capitol Hill, where Maliki is to address Congress tomorrow, some politicians threatened to boycott the speech because the Iraqi leader has condemned Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

Bush said improved military conditions outside Baghdad will make it possible to move US military police and other forces to the capital, where an estimated 100 people a day are being killed.

The crimes, blamed largely on sectarian death squads, usually go unsolved.

“He believes and I believe that there needs to be more forces inside Baghdad who are willing to hold people to account,” Bush said.

Maliki said the most important element of a new security programme “is to curb the religious violence”.

Iraq’s multiethnic government must have a policy that “there is no killing and discrimination against anyone”, Maliki said through a translator.

Bush said that Maliki and Gen. George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq, have agreed to deploy more American troops and Iraqi security personnel in Baghdad in the coming weeks.

“Conditions change inside a country,” Bush said. “The question is: ’Will we be facile enough to deal with them, will we be nimble enough?’“

Bush said the answer is yes.

The new strategy will involve “embedding more US military police with Iraqi police units to make them move effective”, the president said.

Maliki called the two leaders’ discussions thorough and fruitful.

“We are determined to defeat terrorism and the security plan for Baghdad has entered the second phase, and it’s achieving its objectives in hunting the terorists and networks, and eliminating it,” al-Maliki said.

Bush, under political pressure to bring at least some US troops home quickly, did not indicate that moment is at hand.

The shift of troops to Baghdad is possible partly because of success in transferring control of some other areas from US forces, Bush said.

“Prime Minister Maliki was very clear this morning,” Bush said. “He said he does not want American troops to leave his country until his government can protect the Iraqi people.

“I assured him that America will not abandon the Iraqi people.”