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| Rice denies US 'escalating Iraq' | Rice denies US 'escalating Iraq' |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied that the US intends to escalate the war in Iraq by confronting Iranian groups operating there. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied that the US intends to escalate the war in Iraq by confronting Iranian groups operating there. |
| Ms Rice backed a pledge by President Bush to run search and destroy missions against groups suspected of building bombs for use within Iraq. | Ms Rice backed a pledge by President Bush to run search and destroy missions against groups suspected of building bombs for use within Iraq. |
| "That's not an escalation, that's good policy," Ms Rice told the BBC. | "That's not an escalation, that's good policy," Ms Rice told the BBC. |
| Ms Rice spoke ahead of a visit to the Middle East, a visit that will focus on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian issue. | Ms Rice spoke ahead of a visit to the Middle East, a visit that will focus on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian issue. |
| The week-long tour will take in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as Israel and the Palestinian territories. | The week-long tour will take in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as Israel and the Palestinian territories. |
| 'Not escalation' | |
| Speaking before leaving the US, Ms Rice insisted that the United States was not going to let either Iran or Syria continue activities that endangered US soldiers in Iraq. | Speaking before leaving the US, Ms Rice insisted that the United States was not going to let either Iran or Syria continue activities that endangered US soldiers in Iraq. |
| "I don't think there is a government in the world that would sit by and let the Iranians in particular run networks inside Iraq that are building explosive devices of a very high quality that are being used to kill their soldiers. | "I don't think there is a government in the world that would sit by and let the Iranians in particular run networks inside Iraq that are building explosive devices of a very high quality that are being used to kill their soldiers. |
| "That's not an escalation, that's just good policy." | "That's not an escalation, that's just good policy." |
| Earlier this week the US raided the Iranian consulate in Irbil, northern Iraq, detaining five people. | Earlier this week the US raided the Iranian consulate in Irbil, northern Iraq, detaining five people. |
| Both President George W Bush and Ms Rice have said this week that they intend to step up measures against those threatening to destabilise Iraq. | Both President George W Bush and Ms Rice have said this week that they intend to step up measures against those threatening to destabilise Iraq. |
| The president announced 21,500 extra troops for Iraq in an effort to dampen violence across the country, especially in the capital, Baghdad. | The president announced 21,500 extra troops for Iraq in an effort to dampen violence across the country, especially in the capital, Baghdad. |
| Last year an influential report led by former Secretary of State James Baker urged the Bush administration to begin negotiations with Iran and Syria in a bid to find a solution in Iraq. | Last year an influential report led by former Secretary of State James Baker urged the Bush administration to begin negotiations with Iran and Syria in a bid to find a solution in Iraq. |
| Reasonable voices | Reasonable voices |
| As well as Iraq, Ms Rice will also discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict during her stay in the Middle East. | As well as Iraq, Ms Rice will also discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict during her stay in the Middle East. |
| I think anything that is an American plan is bound to fail Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State | I think anything that is an American plan is bound to fail Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State |
| However, she admitted she was not travelling to the region with a plan to end the conflict. | However, she admitted she was not travelling to the region with a plan to end the conflict. |
| "I think anything that is an American plan is bound to fail," she said. | "I think anything that is an American plan is bound to fail," she said. |
| "The United States is not going to succeed in this alone. This has to have an Arab voice - Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. | "The United States is not going to succeed in this alone. This has to have an Arab voice - Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. |
| "It certainly has to have the voice of the reasonable factions among the Palestinians, like Abu Mazen [Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas]. And it has to have an Israeli voice." | "It certainly has to have the voice of the reasonable factions among the Palestinians, like Abu Mazen [Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas]. And it has to have an Israeli voice." |