Iraq P.M. warned not to meet Bush

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/474481p-399140c.html

Iraq P.M. warned not to meet Bush



BY KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU


WASHINGTON - The White House expects Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to show up in Jordan for a meeting next week with President Bush, despite threats by militant Shiites to quit the government unless he snubs Bush. Choosing to meet with Bush could put Maliki on a collision course with Moqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Shiites' powerful Madhi Army militia.

Sadr said yesterday that he and 30 followers would "suspend" their involvement in Maliki's shaky coalition government if Maliki goes to the Jordan summit with Bush. Maliki's government is under pressure on several fronts, including from insurgent Sunnis who killed more than 200 Shiites on Thursday in a series of car bomb and mortar attacks.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel called Thursday's assaults "a brazen effort to topple a democratically elected government." The unrelenting violence is dragging Iraq toward all-out civil war and security will be at the top of the agenda at next week's Jordan summit. "Securing Baghdad and gaining control of the violent situation will be a priority agenda item when President Bush meets with Prime Minister al-Maliki in just a few days," Stanzel said.

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[maddezmom]

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