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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (18161)	4/28/2003 7:42:16 AM
From: Clappy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

coxar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk Don't hit the "Back" button too quickly. Read it first. <g> I suppose Shrub's PC sees this message a lot...

To: lurqer who wrote (18161)	4/28/2003 3:53:23 PM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 89467

Iraqis Aim for Conference in 4 Weeks to Pick Govt. Mon April 28, 2003 02:00 PM ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Leading Iraqis agreed at a meeting with the U.S. administrator of Iraq on Monday to hold a national conference in the next four weeks to choose an interim government. "All efforts should be made to hold a national conference within four weeks...to select a transitional Iraqi government," they said in a statement read out at the end of a nearly 10-hour meeting with Jay Garner, a retired U.S. general. They agreed on the four-week schedule by a show of hands at the closing session of the gathering of about 250 people in the bombed-out heart of Baghdad. The delegates gave no other details of the conference. Garner had told the people attending the meeting that they must build on a smaller, initial gathering on Iraq's political future that was held near the city of Nassiriya two weeks ago, days after Saddam Hussein was toppled. In an initial reaction, British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien told reporters that every effort would be made to ensure the four-week schedule is adhered to. "We are moving the process of forming an interim administration forward and they have intimated that they want to move it along quickly," said O'Brien, whose country took part in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq on March 20. "I believe that the process will deliver a result...It's fascinating to watch the birth of democracy. Of course a birth can be difficult but also very fascinating," he said. Garner will lead an administration in Iraq to oversee reconstruction work until an interim Iraqi government takes over and paves the way for elections. Some delegates had wanted the national conference to be held in two weeks but a show of hands made clear there was overwhelming support for holding it in four weeks. Clear divisions emerged at the meeting over Washington's role in the interim period ahead of planned elections. Although the removal of Saddam was widely welcomed by Iraqis, many fear Washington will now try to impose its will on them. Many former exiles said Iraqis should rule their country alone and the United States should have only a limited role. Other Iraqis who had not left the country said they wanted more U.S. supervision in the interim period because they did not trust those who returned after Saddam's fall. But they all agreed Iraq should eventually be governed by Iraqis alone. "The Iraqi people owe a lot to the United States and the United Kingdom...for deposing the dictator," said Sheikh Hussein Sadr, dean of the Islamic Council in London. "Iraq cannot be ruled except by Iraqis," he added. reuters.com