Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

  

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks to reporters during a news conference with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Baghdad April 3, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

BAGHDAD, April 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a "strong" new Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad on Monday, saying that the next leader must be capable of unifying all Iraqi people.

   "The next prime minister needs to be a strong leader, who's a unifying force and someone who can bring stability and face the challenges of the Iraqi people," Rice made the remarks at a press conference, alongside with her British counterpart Jack Straw.

   However, Rice and Straw emphasized that it was up to the Iraqis to choose their new leader.  

   Meanwhile, Rice expressed the urgency of the government formation by saying that the Iraqi people and the internationalcommunity "need to see that process of government formation come to an end."

   Rice and Straw launched their unannounced visit to Baghdad on Sunday in a bid to press the Iraqis to complete the formation of a national unity government, almost four months after the December parliamentary elections.  Enditem