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| Bush vows to 'complete Iraq job' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has pledged to keep American troops in Iraq until "the job is complete". | |
| Speaking after a summit in Jordan with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, he said troops would remain as long as Mr Maliki's government wanted them there. | |
| President Bush praised Mr Maliki as a strong leader. He said the Iraqi PM had told him that any partition of Iraq would only make things worse. | |
| The summit had been delayed by a day amid denials of a snub to Mr Bush. | The summit had been delayed by a day amid denials of a snub to Mr Bush. |
| It was held as reports suggested a report by America's cross-party Iraq Study Group would recommend changes to US policy. | It was held as reports suggested a report by America's cross-party Iraq Study Group would recommend changes to US policy. |
| Speaking at Thursday's joint news conference, Mr Maliki said his government was at one with the rest of the "civilised world" in fighting terror. | |
| He said he wanted a relationship of mutual respect with Iraq's neighbours. | |
| Mr Bush said it was important to speed up training for the Iraqi security forces and that Mr Maliki should have more forces under his control, so that terrorists and death squads could be defeated. | |
| Under pressure | Under pressure |
| Both leaders face pressure over the situation in Iraq and the summit followed one of the bloodiest weeks in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003. | Both leaders face pressure over the situation in Iraq and the summit followed one of the bloodiest weeks in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
| He [Mr Maliki] impressed me as a leader who wanted to be strong but was having difficulty figuring out how to do so Stephen Hadley US memo raises Maliki doubts | He [Mr Maliki] impressed me as a leader who wanted to be strong but was having difficulty figuring out how to do so Stephen Hadley US memo raises Maliki doubts |
| Mr Maliki was under enormous pressure at home not to meet President Bush, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Amman. | Mr Maliki was under enormous pressure at home not to meet President Bush, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Amman. |
| In protest against the planned meeting, the Iraqi political group loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr suspended its participation in the government. | In protest against the planned meeting, the Iraqi political group loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr suspended its participation in the government. |
| The group, which has 30 MPs and a handful of ministers, had been making the threat for some days and had called for Mr Maliki to call off the Jordan meeting. | The group, which has 30 MPs and a handful of ministers, had been making the threat for some days and had called for Mr Maliki to call off the Jordan meeting. |
| Mr Maliki has also been the subject of a leaked US memo, published in the New York Times on Monday, in which Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, raised doubts about his ability to control sectarian violence. | Mr Maliki has also been the subject of a leaked US memo, published in the New York Times on Monday, in which Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, raised doubts about his ability to control sectarian violence. |
| According to the Times, the 8 November memo said that while Mr Maliki's intentions seemed good, his capabilities were "not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into actions". | According to the Times, the 8 November memo said that while Mr Maliki's intentions seemed good, his capabilities were "not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into actions". |
| Report looms | Report looms |
| Mr Bush, meanwhile, is facing growing political pressure over the lack of progress in Iraq and the rising tide of violence, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington. | Mr Bush, meanwhile, is facing growing political pressure over the lack of progress in Iraq and the rising tide of violence, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington. |
| Even the White House acknowledges the violence has reached a new phase, though it still dismisses talk of a civil war, he says. | Even the White House acknowledges the violence has reached a new phase, though it still dismisses talk of a civil war, he says. |
| Reports on Wednesday suggested that the US is planning to move more troops into Baghdad early next year in a bid to restore calm. | Reports on Wednesday suggested that the US is planning to move more troops into Baghdad early next year in a bid to restore calm. |
| But first comes the publication of the report from the Iraq Study Group, the bipartisan panel set up to examine US policy on Iraq. The group will release its findings on 6 December, it said in a statement on Wednesday. | But first comes the publication of the report from the Iraq Study Group, the bipartisan panel set up to examine US policy on Iraq. The group will release its findings on 6 December, it said in a statement on Wednesday. |
| The co-chairman of the group, Senator Lee Hamilton, said members had now reached a consensus - but did not give details. | The co-chairman of the group, Senator Lee Hamilton, said members had now reached a consensus - but did not give details. |
| Initials reports suggest it will recommend the US military move from a combative to a supportive role, and also urge a regional conference involving Iran and Syria. | Initials reports suggest it will recommend the US military move from a combative to a supportive role, and also urge a regional conference involving Iran and Syria. |