Rice, Straw end Iraq visit without new government in sight

BAGHDAD – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British counterpart Jack Straw wound up two days of intensive talks with Iraqi leaders pressing them to speed up the formation of a new government but without any indication of a breakthrough.

More than three months after legislative elections, they urged Iraqi leaders to overcome their differences and choose a strong figure to unify the country and restore stability. “We came here to give momentum to the process that is already underway.It is not my responsibility or of Mr Straw to determine who is going to be the prime minister of Iraq,” Rice told a press conference at the end of their surprise visit.”That will be determined by Iraqis.But we need a strong, unifying government led by someone who can bring stability and meet the challenges of Iraqi people.”Their visit in the midst of a political vacuum in the war-torn country brought on by the lack of a new government came even as the dominant conservative Shi’ite coalition has asked US leaders to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs.Rice told reporters that Iraqi leaders were under pressure from their own people to form a new government for the next four years and “that process has to take place quickly”.”If you do not have the key positions determined, it will be difficult to form the government,” she said.Following their meetings, the two chief diplomats have a “better understanding of pieces that are falling in places to take this process go forward”, added Rice.”You cannot have a circumstance where there is a political vacuum in a country like this that faces so much threat of violence,” she warned.Straw emphasised a degree of impatience in the United States and Britain which he said had sacrificed soldiers’ lives and resources in building a new Iraq since their March 2003 invasion which ousted Saddam Hussein.”We recognize that coalition always takes time.But this is now taking more than that,” he said.Straw was quite blunt about why the United States and Britain should have an input in the process.”The Americans have lost over 2 000 troops here, we have lost over a 100, there are 140 000 overseas troops here helping to keep the peace,” said the foreign secretary.”We do have a right to say, that we have got to be able to deal with Mr A, B or C, we can’t deal with Mr Nobody,” he said.Both envoys praised Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader for much of the country’s majority Shi’ite community, for his aid in building a new Iraq, suggesting he could help break the political deadlock.”Without the remarkable spiritual guidance shown by his eminence, the Grand Ayatollah Sistani, this country for all its problems it now faces would not have in its hands the potential for a better future,” said Straw.- Nampa-AFP”We came here to give momentum to the process that is already underway.It is not my responsibility or of Mr Straw to determine who is going to be the prime minister of Iraq,” Rice told a press conference at the end of their surprise visit.”That will be determined by Iraqis.But we need a strong, unifying government led by someone who can bring stability and meet the challenges of Iraqi people.”Their visit in the midst of a political vacuum in the war-torn country brought on by the lack of a new government came even as the dominant conservative Shi’ite coalition has asked US leaders to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs.Rice told reporters that Iraqi leaders were under pressure from their own people to form a new government for the next four years and “that process has to take place quickly”.”If you do not have the key positions determined, it will be difficult to form the government,” she said.Following their meetings, the two chief diplomats have a “better understanding of pieces that are falling in places to take this process go forward”, added Rice.”You cannot have a circumstance where there is a political vacuum in a country like this that faces so much threat of violence,” she warned.Straw emphasised a degree of impatience in the United States and Britain which he said had sacrificed soldiers’ lives and resources in building a new Iraq since their March 2003 invasion which ousted Saddam Hussein.”We recognize that coalition always takes time.But this is now taking more than that,” he said.Straw was quite blunt about why the United States and Britain should have an input in the process.”The Americans have lost over 2 000 troops here, we have lost over a 100, there are 140 000 overseas troops here helping to keep the peace,” said the foreign secretary.”We do have a right to say, that we have got to be able to deal with Mr A, B or C, we can’t deal with Mr Nobody,” he said.Both envoys praised Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader for much of the country’s majority Shi’ite community, for his aid in building a new Iraq, suggesting he could help break the political deadlock.”Without the remarkable spiritual guidance shown by his eminence, the Grand Ayatollah Sistani, this country for all its problems it now faces would not have in its hands the potential for a better future,” said Straw.- Nampa-AFP