An opinion poll found only seven percent of Iraqis now viewed U.S. troops as "liberators," compared to 45 percent six months ago.
The poll was conducted by the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic Studies in April, before pictures of soldiers abusing prisoners drove another wedge between Americans and Iraqis.
Washington said U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has helped to shape handover plans, was expected to announce the names within two weeks of the new Iraqi interim government's leaders.
"We're moving forward," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "The people (Brahimi) puts forward, we believe, will be good representatives of an interim government until such time the Iraqis can hold free, fair and open elections."
Heavy exchanges of gunfire occurred in Iraq's southern Shi'ite holy city of Najaf between U.S. forces and militiamen loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, witnesses said.
U.S.-led forces have been battling for weeks to put down a rebellion by Sadr's militia and his supporters.
Reuters Limited.
The poll was conducted by the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic Studies in April, before pictures of soldiers abusing prisoners drove another wedge between Americans and Iraqis.
Washington said U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has helped to shape handover plans, was expected to announce the names within two weeks of the new Iraqi interim government's leaders.
"We're moving forward," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "The people (Brahimi) puts forward, we believe, will be good representatives of an interim government until such time the Iraqis can hold free, fair and open elections."
Heavy exchanges of gunfire occurred in Iraq's southern Shi'ite holy city of Najaf between U.S. forces and militiamen loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, witnesses said.
U.S.-led forces have been battling for weeks to put down a rebellion by Sadr's militia and his supporters.
Reuters Limited.
