U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE BEGAN TALKS ON SUNDAY WITH IRAQI PRIME MINISTER IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI. RICE SMILED FROSTILY AND APPEARED AWKWARD AS SHE AND JAAFARI EXCHANGED PLEASANTRIES BEFORE PHOTOGRAPHERS AT THE START OF THEIR TALKS, CHATTING ABOUT THE RARE RAIN FALLING ON BAGHDAD, REUTERS REPORTED. 'IT IS A GOOD SIGN,' JAAFARI SAID. 'I AM SURE YOU CAN NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOU COME FREQUENTLY TO IRAQ.' RICE AND BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW HAD ARRIVED ON AN UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO PUSH FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY JAAFARI'S REFUSAL TO HEED CALLS TO STEP ASIDE.
