Iraqi Exiles Oppose US Military Governing in Post-war Iraq

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 30, 2003

Iraqi Exiles Oppose US Military Governing in Post-war Iraq

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

About 300 Iraqi exiles, half of them from the United States, gathered in the British capital Saturday to discuss their war-torn country's future, voicing opposition to plans for a US military administration in a post-war Iraq.

These Iraqi opposition figures, including Shiite and Sunni Muslims and Kurds, have recently set up a group named the Independent Iraqis for Democracy (IID).

Saturday's meeting would appoint Adnan Pachachi, an 80-year-oldformer Iraqi foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations,as the leader of the newborn group, a news report said.

Pachachi, who fled Iraq in 1968 and has been living in exile inthe United Arab Emirates, told the meeting that he "rejected the idea of an American military administration after the war."

"That is in no way acceptable," he said. "The meeting should press for the departure of (US) troops as quickly as possible after the war and for the setting up of a transitional authority to govern the country."

In a statement issued earlier, the IID said: "The transitional government will negotiate immediately with the United Nations to regain Iraq's full sovereignty over its land and resources, denying the opportunity for occupying Iraq by foreigners."

"Our group has three objectives. It is opposed to the war beingwaged by the Anglo-American coalition. It wants Saddam Hussein to leave. And it asks that Iraq be placed under the provisional administration of the UN and Iraqi technocrats," Walid Khadduri, an IID member, was quoted as saying Friday.

The new group is not among the mainstream Iraqi opposition financially supported by the United States. The latter consists ofsix groups including the Iraqi National Congress (INC) led by Ahmed Chalabi and two main Kurdish parties.

During a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair earlierthis week, US President George W. Bush suggested the United Statesprefer running an interim military administration on its own before handing it over to a friendly Iraqi government.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Iraqi Minister Charge US, UK Leaders with War Crime

Man Threatens Beirut Bank with Grenade Over Iraq

Iraqi Leader Saddam is Winning the Propaganda War

>> Full Coverage

Authenticity of Reports Shadowed by Smoke of Gun Powder ( 4 Messages)

China's Z11 Helicopters Get Green Light for Civilian Use ( 20 Messages)

US Publications Make Illegal Debut in China ( 2 Messages)

Kuwait City Struck by a Missile from Unknown Origin ( 4 Messages)

When Will the Humanitarian Disasters End? ( 19 Messages)