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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| New US doubts on Iraq government | New US doubts on Iraq government |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A new study by US intelligence agencies will express serious doubts about the ability of Iraqi leader Nouri Maliki to unify his country, US media report. | A new study by US intelligence agencies will express serious doubts about the ability of Iraqi leader Nouri Maliki to unify his country, US media report. |
| Analysts say the Iraqi government will become more fragile in the next six to 12 months, the Associated Press says. | Analysts say the Iraqi government will become more fragile in the next six to 12 months, the Associated Press says. |
| The New York Times cites officials who say the study gives a bleak outlook on Iraqi politics but that the US military has made progress in cutting violence. | The New York Times cites officials who say the study gives a bleak outlook on Iraqi politics but that the US military has made progress in cutting violence. |
| It comes a day after President George W Bush expressed support for Mr Maliki. | It comes a day after President George W Bush expressed support for Mr Maliki. |
| Parts of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq are due to be released later on Thursday. | |
| The 10-page document represents the assessments of all 16 US intelligence agencies. | |
| 'More precarious' | |
| The Associated Press news agency, which has obtained an advance copy, said the report concludes that "Iraqi political leaders remain unable to govern effectively". | |
| Mr Bush has said Mr Maliki is a "good man with a difficult job" | |
| Analysts predict that the Iraqi government will "become more precarious" because of criticism of the government by top Shia, Sunni and Kurdish figures, the reports say. | |
| They also express grave doubts that PM Nouri Maliki will be able to overcome sectarian divisions in Iraq and meet political benchmarks on unity, AP cites the report as saying. | |
| The Iraqi Security Services have performed "adequately" alongside US forces but they are not capable of conducting operations without support from coalition forces, the study adds. | |
| Observers suggest the report could lend support to the Bush administration's argument that pulling out precipitously would lead to chaos and violent upheaval. | |
| Mr Bush defended his Iraq policy on Wednesday, comparing current calls for withdrawal from Iraq with what happened at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. | |
| During a speech to veterans, he called Mr Maliki a "good man with a difficult job". | |
| A progress report is due in mid-September from General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, on the effectiveness of the recent surge in US troop numbers in tackling the violence there. |