International   

Bush to unveil new Iraq strategy early next year

31 killed in violence, Maliki calls unity meet

WASHINGTON: United States President George W. Bush will unveil a new Iraq strategy in early 2007, the White House said on Tuesday, as violence in that country claimed the lives of 31 persons.

``It only makes sense for the President to take whatever time he needs to have confidence in the course he'll put forward to the American people,'' said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In Iraq, a series of vehicle bombs and shootings killed 31 persons and wounded scores more, stoking sectarian anger in the run-up to a national unity conference.

A car bomb exploded in a busy market near the Al-Kamaliyah mosque in a mainly Shia district of east Baghdad, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding another 26, a security official said.

Bodies of the victims lay scattered around the street amid pools of blood and the burning wreckage of at least two cars and a row of market stalls set up by a nearby bus station.

Two more car bombs were set off later in Baghdad Jadida, a Shia neighbourhood, killing five day labourers waiting for work and wounding 10. White House officials had hoped that Mr. Bush would wrap up high-profile consultations with U.S. diplomats and military officials as well as senior Iraqi Government figures in time to showcase his new approach by Christmas.

``That is not going to happen until the New Year. We do not know when, so I can't give a date,'' spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.

The surge in bloodshed in Iraq came three days ahead of a national reconciliation conference organised by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Saturday's talks will aim to bring the leaders of Iraq's warring sects under one roof to allow them to solve their differences without recourse to rival militias backing almost every party. — Agencies.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

LTTE will be driven out of Eastern province: army
Bush to unveil new Iraq strategy early next year
Truce still valid: Norway
Australia plans "citizenship test" for immigrants
Panic over serial killings
Two Buddhists killed
Nepal meet inconclusive
E.U. adopts new chemicals regime
U.S. team in China for strategic talks
FDA warns Nestle
War not an end in itself: Kasuri
U.K. rights group lauds Tamil Nadu

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu