Iraq's Interim President Ghazi al-Yawar is meeting at the White House with President Bush on security issues and arrangements for next month's elections in Iraq.
Mr. Yawar is against postponing the elections, scheduled for January 30. The Iraqi president told American journalists Sunday that delaying elections for a national assembly would only "prolong the agony" that Iraqis have suffered during months of insurgent attacks.
Mr. Yawar is an influential leader in the Sunni Muslim areas of Iraq where insurgent attacks have been the fiercest.
President Bush agrees that Iraq's elections should not be delayed. Later today, Mr. Bush also meets at the White House with Jordan's King Abdullah.
