US general likens Iraq to "work of art" in progress

BAGHDAD, Nov 3 (Reuters) A senior U.S. general compared Iraq to a ''work of art'' in progress, saying it was too soon to judge the outcome and playing down violence and friction with Iraqi leaders as ''speed bumps'' on the road.

''A lump of clay can become a sculpture, blobs of paint become paintings which inspire,'' Major General William Caldwell, chief military spokesman, yesterday told his weekly Baghdad news briefing.

''The final test of our efforts will not be the isolated incidents reported daily but the country that the Iraqis build.'' Three-and-a-half years after the U.S.-led invasion, President George W. Bush is under intense pressure over his Iraq policy ahead of next week's Congressional elections where polls show he could lose control of both houses halfway through his second term in office.

Rising U S casualties and spiralling sectarian violence and insurgent attacks that kill hundreds of Iraqi civilians every week have sparked heated debate in the United States over whether Iraq is descending into civil war.

''Every great work of art goes through messy phases while it is in transition,'' Caldwell said.

Last week Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the U S-led forces for poor security and aides said he was angered by perceived pressure from Washington to accept U S ''timelines'' for progress that would allow U S troops to leave.

He also criticised a U.S. raid in a Shi'ite area and on Tuesday ordered U S checkpoints that were installed in Baghdad as part of the hunt for a missing U S soldier to be dismantled.

Caldwell played down friction between U S and Iraqi officials, saying ''miscommunications'' were an inevitable part of the transition process as Iraqis take over responsibility: ''The transition is not always a pleasant thing to watch as it happens but when common goals are achieved, speed bumps and differences of opinion along the way are soon forgotten.'' He said violence had decreased sharply in the past week after a surge during the month of Ramadan, and sectarian killings had fallen 41 percent in Baghdad in the past week.

''Last week casualties did decrease with a nationwide drop of approximately 23 per cent,'' he said, adding that it was too early to call it a trend. ''Over the last four weeks, casualties were higher than in the months of August and September.'' Reuters SHB DB1001