Rice: No 'major reevaluation' of Iraq strategy

MOSCOW, Oct 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, one of the architects of the Iraq war, said on Saturday the Bush administration did not plan a major review of its strategy in Iraq where sectarian violence is raging.

Speaking to reporters en route to Moscow, Rice said people should not over-interpret U.S. President George W. Bush's meeting later on Saturday with his military commanders.

"I would not read into this somehow that there is a full-scale push for a major reevaluation (of Iraq strategy). The Baghdad security plan was always to be reevaluated at the time of the end of the plan, which was the end of Ramadan," Rice said. The Muslim fasting month ends early next week.

Washington has said the results of its 2-month-old campaign to curb violence in Baghdad through mass reinforcements has been disappointing.

On Friday, Bush said he would resist U.S. election-year pressure for a major shift in strategy in Iraq, despite growing scepticism among Americans over the handling of the war.

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