IMPEACH BUSH

The commander of US forces in northern Iraq said yesterday that he did not have enough troops to bring stability, sharpening the debate in America about the effectiveness of George Bush's war plan.

Major General Benjamin Mixon told a video press conference that his region was a haven for militants fleeing a crackdown by US forces in Baghdad, and that the local Iraqi authorities were virtually non-functioning. "I am going to need additional forces in Diyala province to get the situation there to an acceptable level," he said. There are 3,500 troops in the region.

The appeal comes amid multiplying signs of disillusion in America over President Bush's plan to take control of the situation with an infusion of 30,000 extra troops. On Thursday Congress voted to fund the war only until mid-July, at which point it would look at a progress report. Mr Bush said he would veto the measure. Another bill calling for a US pullout in 90 days gained an unexpected degree of support before failing, suggesting the president will face continued pressure.

The vice-president, Dick Cheney, went to Iraq this week to make the case for continuing the war. In a speech from a US aircraft carrier, Mr Cheney tried to maintain the strong front. "I want you to know that the American people do not support a policy of retreat," he said. "We want to complete the mission, get it done right, and return with honour."

The Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, weighed in yesterday, calling on Congress to step back from setting a withdrawal date. "We hope that Congress will review this decision and help the American army to stay until the Iraqi army will be ready, to train them and to protect the state of Iraq."