Iraq president optimistic about government

AP ^ | March 24 2006 | QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA

[jmc1969]

Iraq's president issued a highly optimistic report Friday on progress among politicians trying to hammer out the shape of a new unity government. At least 51 more people, including two U.S. soldiers, were reported dead in rampant violence.

President Jalal Talabani said the government could be in place for parliamentary approval by the end of the month, though he acknowledged "I am usually a very optimistic person." He spoke to reporters after a fifth round of multiparty talks among the country's polarized political factions.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad brokered the sessions, with the Bush administration applying extreme pressure on Iraqi politicians to form a government. Washington hopes to begin withdrawing troops this summer, banking on a decrease in violence once a national unity government is in place.

A less optimistic Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, whose nomination by the Shiite bloc for a second term produced the political stalemate, has said a Cabinet list could be ready by the end of April, a full month beyond the Talabani estimate.

The political talks resumed as some among the politicians floated what appeared to be trial balloons suggesting that the Shiite bloc would seek a way out of the impasse over al-Jaafari by naming three candidates for prime minister, according to politicians and officials close to the talks. They spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive juncture in the negotiations.

[maine-iac7]

shhhh

you don't want the MSM to hear you - they'll launch into another negative brouhaha to refute it