Bush tells Iraqi leader U.S. setting no deadlines

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush assured Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday that the United States had not set any deadline for the Iraqi government to bring the violence under control, the White House said.

Maliki raised his concerns about a timeline 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.

Two leading Republican senators, John Warner of Virginia and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, have publicly called for a new strategy in Iraq, saying the situation is worsening and limiting U.S. options.

Hagel said on Sunday he agreed with Warner that Iraq was "drifting sideways." Warner 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.

A panel co-chaired by James Baker, a former Secretary of State, that is reviewing U.S. policy on Iraq is expected to make recommendations after the November 7 congressional elections.

Snow said the Iraq Study Group had not reached conclusions and Baker had not discussed the panel's work with Bush.

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