Bush-Maliki to meet as Iraq violence spirals

WASHINGTON: The White House on Friday reiterated that President George W Bush would meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Jordan next week amid a sharp rise in Shiite-Sunni violence on Friday.

As Vice President Dick Cheney took off on a trip to Saudi Arabia on Friday, the White House said there would be no change to Bush's planned summit with Maliki even as a top Shiite cleric said he would pull his faction out of the Baghdad government if the meeting takes place.

"Securing Baghdad and gaining control of the violent situation will be a priority agenda item when President Bush meets with Prime Minister Maliki in just a few days," said White House spokesperson Scott Stanzel.

The spike in violence in Iraq Friday left at least 202 dead in a wave of bombings in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City, the deadliest attack since the war began in 2003. 

Apparent revenge efforts by Shiite militias left dozens more feared dead in attacks on Sunni mosques in Baghdad. Separately a triple bomb attack in the northern town of Tal Afar killed 23 people and wounded 45 others Friday, according to police.

The White House condemned the attacks by both sides.

"These ruthless acts of violence are deplorable. It is an outrage that these terrorists are targeting innocents in a brazen effort to topple a democratically elected government. These killers will not succeed," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. 

How to quell the violence will likely be the focal topic in talks that Cheney holds with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, and the Bush-Maliki meeting on November 29-30 in Amman.

Cheney could ask Abdullah to use his influence to help foster reconciliation between warring factions in Iraq, and also press for Riyadh to come through with its promised reconstruction aid.

But Friday's violent surge has added urgency to both trips. A few hours before the attack on Sunni mosques in Baghdad, the political group of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose base is in Sadr City, threatened to quit the national unity government if Maliki meets Bush.

But Stanzel confirmed that the meeting will take place despite the threats by Sadr's allies. Bush and Maliki are also to see Jordan's King Abdullah II, as pressure mounts for all of of Iraq's neighbors to help contain the daily bloodshed.

With US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also due to visit the region soon, the top-level travel reflects the seriousness of the situation on the ground in Iraq, as does Bush's stated openness to potential policy change there. 

The rising violence, a surge in US casualties in Iraq, and the victory of opposition Democrats in Congressional elections on November 7 have piled pressure on Bush to change US policy in Iraq, if not to begin withdrawing troops -- something Bush has steadfastly refused to commit to. 

But after an October that was the bloodiest month for Iraqi civilians -- according to the United Nations -- and one of the bloodiest for US troops since the March 2003 invasion, the latest anti-Shiite attack and counterattacks will only elevate the pressure on the president to change course.

Stanzel said on Friday that the violence is "clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq."

He added that "the United States is committed to helping the Iraqis."

It remains unclear, however, what resources Bush and Cheney can marshal to stop the country from plunging into all-out civil war.

Bush has started a comprehensive review of his Iraq policy. Two reports are expected in the coming weeks -- one from the administration and another from a high-powered independent panel -- which could play a big role in decisions on strategy and US troop levels.

The worsening situation in recent months also raises questions about US trust in Maliki and, specifically, his ability to end attacks by militia.

So far, Bush has publicly stood by Maliki, but his confidence seems to be increasingly in doubt.