The commander of coalition forces in two volatile Baghdad neighborhoods says Shiite splinter groups backed by Iran are continuing their attacks, in spite of a reduction of violence in the area by mainstream Shiite groups and mostly-Sunni al-Qaida.

President Bush and senior Iraqi Shi’ite politician Abdel Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council met privately in Washington on Tuesday.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said here Wednesday that self-confidence and reliance on God Almighty are the most important back up of the Iranian Armed Forces.