After bloody week, leaders hopeful alliance will quash violence

Updated: 10:37 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq’s fractious political groups could form a coalition government within weeks, the country’s president said Saturday, as U.S. officials have increased post-election contacts with disaffected Sunni Arabs linked to the insurgency.

Jalal Talabani, Iraq’s Kurdish president, offered a timeframe on the formation of a government after meeting with visiting British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who said Iraqis remain optimistic about their future despite suffering through a violent week that saw nearly 200 people killed in two days, including 11 U.S. troops.

In an effort to help draw Sunni Arabs into the political process as a way to dampen the violence, U.S. officials for months have been communicating directly or through channels with members of the disaffected minority connected to the insurgency.



If this actually happens, it is the beginning of the end of the War in Iraq. It will be great news for all of the decent people in the World, and terrible news for Al Qaeda and all of its sympathizers, like certain persons who post on this board. I am cautiously optimistic.