Bush in talks to speed up Iraq handover

US President George Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will discuss a speedier hand-over of security control to Iraqi forces as a prelude to the start of a US withdrawal when they meet in Amman, Jordan, later this week, top Iraqi government officials said today.

As al-Maliki prepared to meet the American leader, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani today sought to enlist Iran’s help in quelling the escalating violence that threatens to tear the country apart.