Iraq government faces "precarious" year - US report

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will become ''more precarious'' over the next 6-12 months and security will improve modestly even as sectarian violence remains high, US intelligence agencies said.

Declassified findings of the report said there had been ''measurable but uneven improvements'' in Iraq's security situation since January, under the US troop increase ordered by President George W Bush this year.

The report comes amid growing criticism among US political leaders over Maliki's ability to govern Iraq, and calls for a US troop withdrawal.

It cast doubt on Maliki's ability to heal sectarian divides as specified by US milestones for progress.

''Broadly accepted political compromises required for sustained security, long-term political progress and economic development are unlikely to emerge unless there is a fundamental shift in the factors driving Iraqi political and security evelopments,'' it said.

The report was issu ed by the Office of the National Intelligence Director, a day after Bush sought to correct impressions that his support for Maliki was wavering and weeks before a mid-September assessment by US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker and the top U.S. commander there, Gen David Petraeus.

REUTERS DKS RK2255