Form of new Iraqi government still confusing

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Form of new Iraqi government still confusing

The form and nature of the new Iraqi government is still a riddle for many concerned parties, with different leaderships trying hard to reach a solution acceptable to all.

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The form and nature of the new Iraqi government is still a riddle for many concerned parties, with different leaderships trying hard to reach a solution acceptable to all.

According to Iraqi sources, officials from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Iraqi Interim Governing Council (IGC) prefer the idea of expanding the IGC from 25 to 125 members and contacts are ongoing with some religious, political and specialized figures to include them in the new council.

The coalition forces would turn over power in Iraq to this expanded council by the end of June so as to prepare for next year's elections, the sources said.

There are many possibilities in the process of power transfer, but Washington is still undecided about the date of the elections, observers said.

Furthermore, the situation is complicated by the facts that Iraqi Shiite leaders demanded the UN intervention to guarantee elections and the UN refusal to return to Iraq before the country restores security and stability.

All discussions are now focused on what kind of a replacement will be found for the IGC.

The council could be expanded to 125 or 150 members, said Ayad Al Samuray, the deputy secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic Party.

Al Samuray pointed out that a key bone of contention is how to form such a council and who would be eligible to choose.

We prefer a choice made on the basis of representing, he said, adding that all governorates should be represented according to their populations.

The attitudes of the three major powers are attached great importance in the process of power transfer in Iraq, the observers said.

Firstly, the coalition forces would not be willing to hand over power unless its interests in Iraq are guaranteed, and this seems justifiable in the absence of security and the prevailing chaos while Iraqi security forces are still under formation.

The second party in this equation is the IGC, whose members wantto keep their political influence in the new government and in preparation for the future elections.

The third party is the United Nations, which fears burdening itself with the failure of others and holds the view that power transfer can be achieved through a number of suggestions.

The Iraqi people, the ones directly concerned by the power transfer, are divided among the demands of the Shiites, a federation pursuit by the Kurds, and weakness and disorganization of the Sunni Muslims.

Nevertheless, most Iraqis are busy in earning their daily bread due to high rates of unemployment and the deteriorating security situation and not expected to take an active role in the power transfer process.

Things are not as negative as the media pictures, a IGC source who preferred not to be named told Xinhua.

The IGC would be expanded by admitting new members and the representatives of the Sunnis would be increased to come close to that of the Shiites, he said, adding that the process would be executed in time.

According to the sources, the system of federation would be applied more likely on geographical bases instead of sectarian or national bases in Iraq, where the 18 governorates will be divided into three regions.

The first is the northern region which includes the governorates of Dihook, Arbeel, Sulaimania, Mosul, Kirkuk and Salah El Deen. Thecity of Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad, is expected to be the capital of the region.

The second is the middle region which includes Baghdad, Al Anbar, Diyala, Babil, Karbala and Al Najaf. Baghdad would be the capital of the region.

The third is the southern region which includes Al Basrah, Al Nasiriyah, Al Ummarah, Al Kut, Al Diwaniyah and Al Simawa. Basrah, 560 km south of Baghdad, would be the capital.

The sources added that these federations would be given full authority in running their own affairs and establishing their own institutions, except for the ministries of oil, foreign affairs, finance and defense, which would be under control of the central government.

The form of the new Iraqi government would stay confusing for some time because it is related to many uncertainties and international events, especially those with the involvement of the United States, which is running things in Iraq.

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