Rice: Iraq should decide key security posts soon

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed confidence Monday that Iraqi leaders would be able to fill key security posts in the next few days while downplaying recent sectarian violence. Meanwhile, the top US military officer pledged a thorough investigation in the alleged massacre of Iraqi citizens in Haditha by Marines, acknowledging that the charges have raised concerns among Iraqi officials and in the United States. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it is not clear exactly what happened last November when as many as two dozen Iraqis were killed during a US attack in Haditha. Still, he said it was important not to rush to judgment.