THE Bush Administration is being drawn reluctantly back into the running of Iraq’s day-to-day affairs, after a deadly insurgent offensive, combined with a weak Government in Baghdad, threatens the next stage on the country’s rocky road to democracy.

Hoshyar Zebari, the Foreign Minister, said the Bush Administration had hoped to distance itself from Iraq after the elections in January. Yet, after it took three months for the Government to form, and with the deadline looming for a new constitution, American officials have had to step in.

“The attitude of the US Government after the election was not to intervene,” Mr Zabari told The Times. “They told us it was up to Iraq’s leaders to decide. I agreed, but thought they should play a facilitating role. In practical terms, they have 160,000 people on the ground. I am not saying we need a return to [Paul] Bremer and the CPA [the US occupation authority], but I also do not think the hands-off approach is correct. There is something in-between.”

Over recent weeks, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, has visited Iraq and Robert Zoellick, her deputy, has been twice with promises of further visits. Dr Rice intervened to patch up frayed relations between the two main Kurdish groups. Her deputy pressed Iraqi politicians on the need to keep momentum in the political process.

They have emphasised the need for Iraq to meet key deadlines — for the drafting of the constitution by August 15, the holding of a referendum on the constitution on October 15 and a fresh round of general elections in December.

“They have become re-engaged very late,” Mr Zabari said. “Rice and Zoellick have been to Baghdad. They recognise that unless we get this next stage right, then the entire process could be endangered.”

Western diplomats said that the Americans have pressed to have Sunni representatives would added to the drafting process.

At present there are just two Sunni Arabs on the 55-member parliamentary drafting committee which will debate fundamental issues such as the role of religion in Iraq and the rights of minorities. One proposal is to include as many as 14 Sunni figures in an electoral commission assisted by Western constitutional experts.

The Americans are convinced many Sunnis regret not taking part in the elections and now want to become re-engaged.

Yesterday Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the largest Shia party, said Sunnis must be properly represented. “They should have real participation and their points of view should be taken seriously,” he said.

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