Iraq Pressed by U.S. to Quickly Solve Political Crisis

The U.S. is pressing Iraq’s leaders to form a new government quickly in a bid to halt the nation’s slide into civil war, seeking to achieve in weeks a political agreement that took eight months in 2010.

The U.S. has limited sway in Iraq as it seeks a political solution to the country’s sectarian strife, potentially without Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose actions have alienated minority Sunnis and Kurds.