Iraq ‘fails 11 of 18 key targets’

Iraq has failed to meet 11 of 18 key progress benchmarks set by the US, according to an independent report from a Congressional watchdog.

Political progress in Iraq has been unsatisfactory and violence “remains high”, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found.

Iraq had met three benchmarks and partially met another four, it said.

The study was slightly more upbeat than leaks last week had suggested, following criticism from the Pentagon.

The draft report said three benchmarks had been met and only two benchmarks partially met.

Following leaks to the media, a Pentagon spokesman said officials had made some “factual corrections” and “offered some suggestions”.

Washington reports

The GAO said Iraq had failed to live up to key targets on reducing sectarian violence and passing laws on oil revenue sharing.

The report contrasts with a White House study in July which found eight of the key US goals had been fully met.

The targets were established to monitor Iraq’s military and political progress.

The GAO findings come a day after President George W Bush visited Anbar province and said his security surge – the injection of an extra 30,000 troops into Iraq – was delivering results.

Tuesday’s report is the first in a series of assessments over the next month on the success of the US troop surge in Iraq.

The most crucial findings could be the verdicts of General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq.

They will deliver a full progress report to Congress next week.

Story from BBC NEWS

Published: 2007/09/04 18:28:37 GMT

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