By DPA
Washington : US President George W Bush has welcomed an agreement by Iraq’s top political leaders aimed at helping reconciliation but cautioned that there were still challenges ahead.
Bush Monday said he was briefed during conversations with Iraq’s leadership on the deal, which was reached late Sunday and announced by Iraq’s Shia Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
“While yesterday’s agreement’s an important step, I reminded them and they understand much more needs to be done,” Bush said in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Al-Maliki reached the deal after several days of negotiations with President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni, and Shia Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi.
The deal, aimed at bridging differences between the religious and ethnic groups, allows Sunnis, who were members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party, to return to government jobs if they have not been charged with a specific crime, and would release over 1,000 prisoners who have not been charged.
The agreement will face a stiff challenge once the Iraqi parliament returns from recess in September, largely because of Sunni factions who claim their demands have not been met.
Bush has pressured al-Maliki to take key steps toward reconciliation amid increased pressure in the US to begin withdrawing US troops.
Bush is waiting for a mid-September assessment from his ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and top commander, General David Petraeus, on the political and military progress in Iraq.