Concentration the Shiite, Kurds at London's conference
Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2002

The political statement of the plenary Iraqi opposition conference, which will today afternoon conclude its deliberations by a press conference, has stressed the importance of availing the opportunities which is now at the hands of the Iraqi people in investing the international element to "topple the Iraqi regime," with taking into account the legitimate interests of the Arab and international neighboring states and the Islamic community."

The statement stressed that the "conference sees that liquidating quickly all political sectarianism and preserving all violated rights of the Shiite, condemning the killing of religious figures and their families and scholars, and denouncing displacing non Arabs Iraqi Shiite." It stressed "condemnation of compulsory displacement, ethical cleansing and the change in the national status of the areas of Karkouk, Makhmour and others." It called for returning back the displaced and their properties.

The statement indicated the "great care to maintain Iraq's unity and coexistence among its nationalities on the ground of volunteering federation." It stressed "meeting the legitimate and just ambitions of the people of Kurdistan." The conference was attended by more 270 representatives for the Iraqi opposition, including 200 representatives for the opposition movement and 100 of independents in the presence of an American delegation chaired by Zalmai Khalil Zada, the US ambassador for "the Liberal Iraqis," while the British presence was limited to the the member at the UK house of Commons Ann Collette, and the representative for the foreign office Martin Hizlington and Kuwait's representative Muhammad Jasem al-Saqer, the chairman of the public relations committee at the Kuwaiti national council and a representative for its embassy in London.

Several opposition members who talked at the inaugural session on Saturday called not to feel ashamed in asking help from Washington while the leading figure in the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmad al-Jalabi, included in his intervention messages of various directions to Syria and the Arab Gulf states. He recalled the support given by the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to the Iraqi opposition and called on the Syrian officials to "return back to the line of the great late President and support the opposition." He called also on the Gulf states not "to oppress the Iraqi people under the pretext of defending Iraq."

The delivered speeches called on all various opposition groups to "unify their ranks" while the chairman of the Iraqi national reconciliation movement Eyad Allawi called on the military forces and the opposition to "seriously contribute to ending the regime." Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, brother of the chairman of the Higher Council of the Islamic Revolution called for the need "to unite the opposition in order to prevent the foundation of a political vacuum that opens the door for a foreign military rule," calling for the cooperation of all sides "to prevent any forms of foreign hegemony on the potentials and sovereignty of the Iraqi people."

Previous Stories:
  Tunisia prevents a demonstration against the war on Iraq   (12/14/2002)
  Kuwaiti paper: Iraq plans destruction acts against Kuwait   (12/14/2002)
  Iraq accepts a visit of a UN delegate for the Kuwaiti missing   (12/13/2002)
  Iraqi opposition held a preparatory meeting in Tehran   (12/12/2002)
  Draft recommendations of the opposition conference in London   (12/10/2002)
  Iraq's denies connection to killing of opposition member, al-Mayahi   (12/9/2002)

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