Republican urges new options to deal with Iraq unrest

A senior Republican Senator in the United States has returned from Iraq with a bleak warning about the situation there.

Senate Arms Services Committee chairman John Warner has spoken of the need for new options if the violence in Iraq is not brought under control within the next two to three months.

"If these movements now being taken by the Iraqi leadership and their Government do not bring about a reduction in the killings and all of the other disruption and do not point to a clear direction that Iraq's going to move out of this situation that is existing today, then I think we've got to make some bold decisions here in our country," he said.

He says the situation in Iraq is drifting and the Iraqi Government is simply not able to meet the fundamental responsibilities of a government.

Senator Warner says the US must review what is happening and all options must be on the table.

"In two or three months if this thing hasn't come to fruition and if this level of violence is not under control and this Government able to function, I think it's a responsibility of our Government internally to determine is there a change of course we should take," he said.

"I wouldn't take off the table any option at this time."