Iraq making mixed progress on goals--report

WASHINGTON, July 12 (Reuters) The Iraqi government has made mixed progress in meeting political and security goals, a US official said today citing a report that may add to rising calls for a change of course in the unpopular war.

The widely anticipated report, to be released soon, grades the Iraqi government as satisfactory on eight of 18 goals set by the US Congress. It showed that on eight of the benchmarks Baghdad's performance was unsatisfactory, and mixed on two others.

The report comes as several prominent Republicans have broken ranks with President George W Bush on Iraq to urge a shift in policy.

The Republican revolt could accelerate Democratic-led efforts to try to force Bush to start scaling back troop levels in Iraq more than four years after a US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

In the upcoming report, the administration is expected to take a glass half-full approach, emphasizing hopeful signs since Bush ordered a US troop buildup six months ago, including a drop in sectarian killings in Baghdad and increased arms seizures.

Despite the growing political pressure, Bush has been trying to buy time, urging lawmakers to hold fire until US commanders and top diplomats deliver their full progress report in September.

A new USA Today/Gallup poll this week showed more than seven in 10 Americans favor withdrawing nearly all US troops by April.

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