US, UK closer to deal on shape of Iraq's gov't: report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 12, 2004

US, UK closer to deal on shape of Iraq's gov't: report

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The United States and Britain are moving closer to resolving the dilemma over the shape of Iraq's future interim government, with coalition officials backing proposals for a prime minister and a three-person presidency, Britain's Financial Times newspaper reported Thursday.

The newspaper said Washington and London have abandoned earlierproposals for provincial caucuses to select members of the interim assembly and are understood to have cooled on an alternative idea to expand the US-appointed Iraq Governing Council.

According to the paper, the interim executive would consist of a prime minister, whose job would combine the current responsibilities of the governing council and the US-led administration that has been running Iraq, and a cabinet of ministers doing the work of the government.

The paper also said a British official indicated that the three-person presidency is expected to preside over a temporary body that would assume sovereignty at the end of June.

However, the paper said, little was clear about the shape of the interim administration or whether a deadline for the transfer of power would be met.

Discussions on the structure of the interim government are likely to continue until the end of April, even though Monday's signing of an interim constitution paved the way for the June 30 hand-over and eventual elections, the paper added.

The paper also revealed that the United States and Britain would be working on a United Nations Security Council resolution likely to be tabled in May to seek approval for both the interim constitution and a continuation of the coalition forces tenure in Iraq.

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