James Baker, the US secretary of state during the first Gulf war, was named yesterday as the joint leader of a high-powered and independent taskforce to assess the situation in Iraq and find "long-term viable alternatives" to current policy.

The idea for the 10-member group originated with Frank Wolf, a Republican congressman for Virginia, and reflects growing concern in both parties in Congress that the US may not be winning the war. Lee Hamilton, the Democratic former congressman who co-chaired the 9/11 Commission, joins Mr Baker.