08/12/2006

Bush and Blair admit new Iraq approach needed

Tony Blair and George W Bush have admitted that a new approach to the war in Iraq is required at a joint press conference held in Washington.

The two leaders used the press conference to present a united front in response to the report published by the Iraq Study Group starkly detailing the failures of Iraq policy.

President Bush said that he believed a new approach was called for and Mr Blair said that the study group report indicated a "strong way forward."

The hard hitting bipartisan report from the US Iraq Study Group detailed recommendations that would improve the prospects of success in what the report described as a "grave and deteriorating" situation in the war torn country.

Violence in Iraq continued yesterday with 11 US soldiers killed and scores of Iraqis reported to have been killed and injured in clashes.

(SP/KMcA)

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