Iraqi PM Tells Bush: Get Gen Petraeus Out

The Telegraph reports on the deep division between U.S. General Petraeus and the Iraqi Priminister al-Maliki.

"Relations between the top United States general in Iraq and Nouri al-Maliki, the country's prime minister, are so bad that the Iraqi leader made a direct appeal for his removal to President George W Bush.

Although the call was rejected, aides to both men admit that Mr Maliki and Gen David Petraeus engage in frequent stand-up shouting matches, differing particularly over the US general's moves to arm Sunni tribesmen to fight al-Qa'eda."

Commentary: On all levels this is shocking news. If the senior U.S. Commander in Iraq cannot work with the Iraqi Prime Minister and his government, expectations and predictions that the surge will be successful cannot possibly succeed.