New Iraq timetable gives United States 'exit strategy'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 17, 2003

New Iraq timetable gives United States 'exit strategy'

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The Iraqi Governing Council endorsed a US plan on Saturday that would create a provisional government by June and provide Washington with an "exit strategy" in the face of escalating guerrilla warfare.

The Iraqi council, which has acted as Iraq's interim administration since it was appointed in July, announced a set of deadlines that would give Iraq a provisional national assembly by May, a transitional administration with full sovereign powers in June and an elected government before the end of 2005.

With the return of sovereignty in June, the US military occupation will formally end, although American forces are expected to remain in Iraq under a new arrangement to be worked out with the Iraqis.

Until a constitution is drafted and adopted, a basic law will be promulgated by the Governing Council and take effect in February. The law, according to an official statement, will enshrine respect for human rights and ensure equality of members of the country's diverse religious and ethnic groups.

The law would establish a democratic and federal state that "respects the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people with the guarantee of the rights of other religions and sects."

The new timetable replaced a political blueprint by L. Paul Bremer, the top US official in Iraq, that envisaged a new constitution and a democratic government for Iraq before the end of 2004. The plan fell apart when council members could not agree on how to proceed with drafting a constitution and a top religious leader said only delegates chosen in a general election could sit on a constituent assembly.

The new timetable for Iraqi self-rule represents a victory for Iraqi politicians who have been lobbying strongly for a quick transfer of power. The administration of US President George W. Bush had been insisting on a new constitution and national elections before handing over power.

But rising US casualties and diminishing support for the Iraq policy among the American public apparently prompted the administration to accept a speedier timetable.

"It is a great day in the history of Iraq," said Entifadh Qanbar, spokesman for council member Ahmad Chalabi. "We always called for restoring Iraq's sovereignty and this has become possible by this plan which was agreed upon by the Governing Council and our American friends."

Qanbar said the accelerated plan will be an important step in ridding the country of Saddam Hussein loyalists believed behind many of the attacks on US troops.

However, Mahmoud Othman, one of five Kurds on the council, warned that implementing the timetable could prove difficult because of the security situation and acute unemployment, estimated between 60 and 70 per cent.

"In my opinion things are going well, but if Iraq continues to lack security and the unemployment issue is not solved, then the implementation of the timetable won't be easy," Othman told reporters. "Agreeing on paper is one thing and the implementation is another thing."

The council announcement followed Bremer's return from Washington on Thursday after two days of urgent consultations with Bush and his top foreign policy advisers.

In Washington, Bush welcomed the new timetable as "an important step," saying it was essential to bringing democracy to Iraq and ensuring peace with its neighbours.

"The US stands ready to help the governing council and all Iraqis translate this new timeline into political reality," he said in a statement.

The end of the occupation will mean the end of Bremer's US-led Coalition Provisional Authority, but not the US military presence.

Council President Jalal Talabani, who is a Kurd, said the new government will be in charge of security but will "negotiate with coalition forces that will change from occupation forces to (a military) presence."

However, reducing the number of American soldiers on the streets of major cities and towns will likely reduce casualties, which have been mounting steadily since last month.

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