Bush tells Iraqi leader US setting no deadlines

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) US President George W Bush assured Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today that the United States had not set any deadline for his government to control sectarian violence or risk losing American support for his leadership, the White House said.

Maliki raised his concerns about a timeline, saying such rumors undermined confidence in the Iraqi government and inspired terrorists, during a 15-minute telephone call initiated by Bush, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

''The president underscored his commitment to a democratically elected government of Iraq, encouraging the prime minister to ignore rumors that the United States government was seeking to impose a timeline on the Maliki government,'' Snow said.

The Iraq war, in which about 2,750 American troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, has dragged down Bush's popularity before elections in which his Republican Party is fighting to keep control of Congress.

In the weeks before November. 7 congressional elections, some top Republicans began to express dissatisfaction with the direction in Iraq, where sectarian violence has raised fears that the country is sinking into an all-out civil war.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, a Virginia Republican, has said the United States might have to consider a change of course if the Iraqi government fails to restore order within two or three months.

Another senior Republican, Sen Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, yesterday said he agreed with Warner's assessment. ''Our options are limited.

The American people are not going to continue to support, sustain a policy that puts American troops in the middle of a civil war,'' Hagel said on CNN's ''Late Edition.'' Democrats, who have long called for a change of direction in Iraq, have stepped up criticism of the Bush administration's conduct of the war in the last stretch before the elections.

Pollsters and analysts see growing public discontent with the Iraq war as a top obstacle for Republicans.

RUMORS Maliki was concerned about rumors there would be an effort to replace him if more progress was not made in Iraq, and Bush said: ''The rumors are not true, we support you,'' according to Snow.

While Bush expressed confidence in Maliki, ''there is more to be done,'' Snow said. ''The violence level's absolutely unacceptable.

And it is important to make progress.'' The bloodshed in Iraq showed no sign of letting up, with car bombs killing at least 30 people today.

Bush supports Maliki's efforts to go after militias and terrorists through political, economic and military means, Snow said. ''What the prime minister did say is he feels confident that in fact the situation is going to turn,'' he said.

The White House will look seriously at recommendations on Iraq expected after the election from a panel co-chaired by James Baker, a former Secretary of State with ties to the Bush family, Snow said.

''But we're not going to outsource the business of handling the war in Iraq,'' he said. ''The president has welcomed lots of differing advice -- people who agree and disagree -- and will continue to do that. And I think that this is going to provide a valuable source of insight and data.'' REUTERS SRS PM0155