IRAQ: The United States is to move soldiers into Baghdad from other parts of Iraq in an effort to deal with sectarian violence that is killing an estimated 100 people a day in the capital. President George Bush announced the redeployment yesterday after a meeting in the White House with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Mr Bush said that changed circumstances in Iraq required a new strategy of embedding more US military police with Iraqi police units in Baghdad.
Security analysts say that US personnel may also seek to ensure that Iraqi units are loyal to Mr Maliki's government and do not collaborate with insurgents or violent sectarian groups.
The president told Mr Maliki that, despite calls for an early withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, the administration remains committed to supporting the new Iraqi government.
"He comes wondering whether or not we are committed. He hears all kinds of things coming out of the United States. I assured him that this government stands by the Iraqi people," Mr Bush said.
A group of congressional Democrats have written to House Speaker Dennis Hastert demanding that a planned address by Mr Maliki to Congress today should be cancelled unless the Iraqi prime minister apologises for remarks he made about the conflict in Lebanon.
Mr Maliki on Saturday condemned Israel's actions in Lebanon and Gaza as "criminal" and warned that the conflict could escalate throughout the Middle East. Illinois Democrats Jan Schakowsky and Rahm Emanuel condemned Mr Maliki's remarks as being contrary to US interests and said he should not be allowed to address Congress until they were withdrawn.
Mr Hastert has made clear that the speech will go ahead as planned.