Bush under pressure over Iraq

Washington: Elder statesmen in the Republican party have stepped up pressure on US President George W. Bush to begin a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by the end of the year.

Senior senators, including Chuck Hagel and John Warner, have publicly warned that the White House must change tack if there is not a dramatic improvement in Iraq's security situation within weeks.

Hagel said: "The American people are not going to continue to support, sustain a policy that puts American troops in the middle of a civil war."

The clamour has become so great, the president was forced to telephone Iraqi President Nouri Al Maliki to assure him that the White House was not prepared to change its strategy.

strategy: Blair stands firm on policy

British Prime Minister Tony Blair stood firm yesterday in the face of mounting demands for a change of strategy in Iraq.

"The government strategy has failed," said Menzies Campbell, leader of Britain's third-largest party, the Liberal Democrats.

"And in those circumstances the choices are stark change the strategy or else get out."

Blair rejected charges that Britain was failing in Iraq and defended his approach, which he said was to defend moderates and the democratic government, fight extremists and withdraw gradually as Iraqi troops become ready to take on security responsibilities.

"I do not want to either dismay our allies or hearten our enemies by suggesting we will do anything else other than stay until our job is done," he said during his weekly House of Commons question session.

- AP