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| Jordan urges Iraq to seek unity | Jordan urges Iraq to seek unity |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| King Abdullah of Jordan has urged Iraqi religious and political leaders not to allow their country to disintegrate. | King Abdullah of Jordan has urged Iraqi religious and political leaders not to allow their country to disintegrate. |
| In a BBC interview, the king said Iraqi leaders must realise the seriousness of the situation and prevent Iraq being destroyed "in a whirlpool of violence". | In a BBC interview, the king said Iraqi leaders must realise the seriousness of the situation and prevent Iraq being destroyed "in a whirlpool of violence". |
| It comes ahead of talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US President George W Bush in Jordan. | It comes ahead of talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US President George W Bush in Jordan. |
| Earlier, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani urged Iran to back the elected Iraqi government, not Shia militia groups. | Earlier, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani urged Iran to back the elected Iraqi government, not Shia militia groups. |
| Mr Talabani has extended his visit to Tehran, which is intended to win Iranian help in stabilising Iraq. | Mr Talabani has extended his visit to Tehran, which is intended to win Iranian help in stabilising Iraq. |
| Escalating violence | Escalating violence |
| King Abdullah is due to host President Bush and Mr Maliki in a tripartite summit in Amman on Wednesday. | King Abdullah is due to host President Bush and Mr Maliki in a tripartite summit in Amman on Wednesday. |
| Security has been stepped up in Amman ahead of the meeting | Security has been stepped up in Amman ahead of the meeting |
| Speaking ahead of the meeting, King Abdullah told the BBC Arabic Service he was very concerned about increasing violence in Iraq. | |
| "We have warned, from the start and on more than one occasion, of the danger of turning a political dispute into a sectarian and religious conflict among the people of one religion and one country," he said. | "We have warned, from the start and on more than one occasion, of the danger of turning a political dispute into a sectarian and religious conflict among the people of one religion and one country," he said. |
| "We [urge] our brothers in Iraq, the Iraqi political and religious leadership - be they Shia or Sunni - to realise the seriousness of the situation and not to allow any conspiracy to pass aimed at dividing or destroying Iraq in a whirlpool of violence and chaos." | "We [urge] our brothers in Iraq, the Iraqi political and religious leadership - be they Shia or Sunni - to realise the seriousness of the situation and not to allow any conspiracy to pass aimed at dividing or destroying Iraq in a whirlpool of violence and chaos." |
| Mr Bush, who will go from the Nato summit in Latvia to Amman, is expected to press Mr Maliki for a plan to contain the country's escalating violence. | Mr Bush, who will go from the Nato summit in Latvia to Amman, is expected to press Mr Maliki for a plan to contain the country's escalating violence. |
| The two leaders will also discuss moves to transfer more responsibility to Iraq's own security forces. | The two leaders will also discuss moves to transfer more responsibility to Iraq's own security forces. |
| Memo revealed | Memo revealed |
| Only hours before the meeting, the New York Times newspaper published details of a memo in which Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, raises doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to control sectarian violence. | Only hours before the meeting, the New York Times newspaper published details of a memo in which Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, raises doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to control sectarian violence. |
| A memo has raised doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to stop violence | A memo has raised doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to stop violence |
| According to the Times, the 8 November memo to top US officials recommends that the White House take extra steps to strengthen Mr Maliki's hand. | According to the Times, the 8 November memo to top US officials recommends that the White House take extra steps to strengthen Mr Maliki's hand. |
| "His [Mr Maliki's] intentions seem good when he talks to the Americans, and sensitive reporting suggests he is trying to stand up to the Shia hierarchy and force positive change", the memo says. | "His [Mr Maliki's] intentions seem good when he talks to the Americans, and sensitive reporting suggests he is trying to stand up to the Shia hierarchy and force positive change", the memo says. |
| "But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into actions." | "But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into actions." |
| White House spokesman Tony Snow, travelling with Mr Bush, said the chief aim of the memo was "to support Maliki and enhance his capabilities". | White House spokesman Tony Snow, travelling with Mr Bush, said the chief aim of the memo was "to support Maliki and enhance his capabilities". |
| Women killed | Women killed |
| The Amman summit follows one of the bloodiest weeks in Iraq since the American-led invasion in 2003. | The Amman summit follows one of the bloodiest weeks in Iraq since the American-led invasion in 2003. |
| Mr Bush is facing growing political pressure back home over the lack of progress in Iraq and the rising tide of violence, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington. | Mr Bush is facing growing political pressure back home 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. |
| Mr Bush is also under pressure to redouble US efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, our correspondent says, and will be told by King Abdullah that it is the most pressing crisis in the region. | Mr Bush is also under pressure to redouble US efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, our correspondent says, and will be told by King Abdullah that it is the most pressing crisis in the region. |
| Even Washington's strongest Arab allies are showing signs of frustration at US policies in the Middle East, he adds. | Even Washington's strongest Arab allies are showing signs of frustration at US policies in the Middle East, he adds. |
| Meanwhile, the US military said its forces had killed two women in an air attack on a house in the northern city of Baquba early on Wednesday. | Meanwhile, the US military said its forces had killed two women in an air attack on a house in the northern city of Baquba early on Wednesday. |
| It comes a day after five girls were killed by US tank fire in the western city of Ramadi. | It comes a day after five girls were killed by US tank fire in the western city of Ramadi. |