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Bush set for delayed Iraq talks Bush begins delayed talks on Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
US President George W Bush is to hold a key summit with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Jordan aimed at tackling Iraq's escalating violence. US President George W Bush has begun a key summit with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki aimed at tackling Iraq's escalating violence.
The meeting, planned for Wednesday, was postponed shortly after Mr Bush arrived in the Jordanian capital, Amman.The meeting, planned for Wednesday, was postponed shortly after Mr Bush arrived in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
The delay came after an Iraqi political grouping suspended participation in government, and followed the leak of a US memo raising doubts over Mr Maliki. The delay followed the leak of a memo casting doubts on Mr Maliki, prompting denials that he had snubbed Mr Bush.
Mr Bush and Mr Maliki are now scheduled to hold talks over breakfast. Thursday's meeting began as details emerged hinting the Iraq Study Group will recommend changes to US policy.
US officials denied the change to the schedule was a snub by Mr Maliki or related to the leaked memo.
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 doubtsHe [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
President Bush is expected to give public support to Mr Maliki, but privately put pressure on him to take action against Shia militias, analysts say.President Bush is expected to give public support to Mr Maliki, but privately put pressure on him to take action against Shia militias, analysts say.
The two are also expected to discuss moves to transfer more responsibility to Iraq's security forces.The two are also expected to discuss moves to transfer more responsibility to Iraq's security forces.
Under pressureUnder pressure
The meeting comes as both men face pressure over the situation in Iraq and follows one of the bloodiest weeks in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003.The meeting comes as both men face pressure over the situation in Iraq and follows one of the bloodiest weeks in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Mr Maliki has been under enormous pressure at home not to meet President Bush, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Amman.Mr Maliki has been 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 memo raised doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to stop violenceThe memo raised doubts about Mr Maliki's ability to stop violence
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".
Regional fearsRegional fears
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.
King Abdullah of Jordan, who is hosting the Amman summit, has spoken out this week about his concern over the situation in Iraq.King Abdullah of Jordan, who is hosting the Amman summit, has spoken out this week about his concern over the situation in Iraq.
On Monday he warned that conflicts in the region - in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories - could spin out of control unless the international community took urgent action.On Monday he warned that conflicts in the region - in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories - could spin out of control unless the international community took urgent action.
Officials said his dinner meeting on Wednesday with Mr Bush focused on both the Iraq issue and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Officials said his dinner meeting on Wednesday with Mr Bush focused on both the Iraq issue and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The king explained ... the need to make real progress on the Palestinian issue because regional complications and challenges are due to the Palestinian problem," the French news agency AFP quoted Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib as saying after the meeting."The king explained ... the need to make real progress on the Palestinian issue because regional complications and challenges are due to the Palestinian problem," the French news agency AFP quoted Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib as saying after the meeting.