U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW ARRIVED IN BAGHDAD SUNDAY, A BRITISH EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON SAID. THE SPOKESPERSON DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT, BUT IT OCCURRED AMID INCREASING PRESSURE ON PRIME MINISTER IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI TO STEP ASIDE AS THE SHIITE NOMINEE FOR A SECOND TERM TO BREAK THE STALEMATE IN TALKS WITH SUNNIS AND KURDS ON FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT. ON SATURDAY, SHIITE POLITICIAN QASSIM DAWOUD JOINED SUNNIS AND KURDS IN CALLING FOR A NEW SHIITE NOMINEE, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. THE BRITISH SPOKESPERSON, WHO REFUSED TO BE NAMED DUE TO EMBASSY RULES, SAID STRAW WOULD MEET WITH SEVERAL IRAQI POLITICIANS AND DISCUSS THEIR PROGRESS IN FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT BUT REFUSED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RICE'S ACTIVITIES. RICE AND STRAW, WHO HAD BEEN IN NORTHERN ENGLAND, ARRIVED DURING A DRIVING RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM AT A TIME WHEN U.S. OFFICIALS HERE HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING INCREASING IMPATIENCE WITH THE SLOW PACE OF GOVERNMENT TALKS FOLLOWING THE DEC. 15 ELECTIONS. --MORE 10 26 LOCAL TIME 07 26 GMT
