Shiite leaders stress peaceful resistance, Garner in Baghdad; preparation for a five- year rule
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/22/2003

The new American ruler Gen. Jay Garner arrived in Baghdad yesterday under the slogan of drawing the basics of "a provisional civilian administration." In a step coincided with statements by senior American officials confirming Washington's determination to stay in Iraq for a long period of time, during which an Iraqi government will not be formed before five years, at least.

Meantime, Kerbala started preparations to receive millions of visitors for the killing anniversary of Imam al-Hussein, making use of the collapse of the Iraqi regime in what seems to be a test for the Shiite among themselves that prepares for getting a political recognition of their role they were deprived off under the rule of Saddam Hussein.

The two leaders of the two main Shiite trends in Iraq, Ali al-Seistani and Muqtada al- Sader announced yesterday that opposition of the American occupation should be by peaceful means. They ruled out the establishment of an Islamic republic similar to the Iranian republic.

Meantime, the "Higher Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq," the third main Shiite organization in the country started opening new offices in the cities of southern Iraq in preparation for the return of its leader Muhammad Baqer al-Hakim expected tomorrow ( Wednesday) form his exile in Tehran.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi National Congress party announced that its forces arrested member of the revolution's leadership Muhammad Hamza al-Zubeidi in al-Hella to the south of Baghdad and he was handed over to the American forces, which stressed that al-Zubeidi who is known for acts of killing and repression committed against the Shiite of the south is not in its fist.

Moreover, the leadership of the American forces in Qatar said that the Iraqi minister of higher education and scientific research Humam Abdul Haleq Abdul Ghaffar was also arrested.

Earlier, the Iraqi National Congress stressed that Jamal Mustafa Abdullah, one of Saddam's sons in Law, was arrested by the Americans.

However, the American administration started to face difficult questions that will be debated by the situation in Iraq at the level of the International Law, after the US President George Bush had called for lifting the sanctions from Baghdad so as any Iraqi authority sponsored by Washington will be able to use the Iraqi assets.

The New York Times said by the weekend quoting American officials that the US administration intends to demand the UN to lift the sanctions imposed on Iraq in phases, in a way the UN to have the right to supervise the Iraqi oil sales at the first phase and other sectors of the Iraqi economy to be transferred to a new Iraqi authority within the few coming months.

Garner stressed yesterday upon inspecting the damages and catastrophe resulted by the occupation that the Americans do not recognize any of the Iraqis who installed themselves as officials in several areas of the Iraqi cities.

Garner said during a visit for a water purification station in Baghdad after he had visited earlier one of the capital's hospitals "There are several persons who appointed themselves officials. I know them. However, our aim is to start an operation that allow the people of Iraq electing their leaders by themselves. There is no exception and we do not provide recognition to any of them.." In this regard, the former US ambassador in Yemen, Barbara Budin, who works within the Garner administration, the central area of Iraq which includes Baghdad, said replying to a question about Muhammad Mohsin al-Zubeidi who appoints himself as a chairman for the executive committee of the Iraqi capital "we do not know much about him, rather than he had appointed himself as a mayor. we do not recognize him. there was no mechanism for selections. When there is a mechanism we would know who is official."

However, al-Zubeidi confirmed later he will assume his work "in running the affairs of the capital," stressing that the "Iraqi people had elected him." Garner who was accompanied by a team of 19 persons expected to exceed 450 persons next week said that the first of his priorities is to restore back basic services like waters and electricity as soon as possible." Garner said that his objective is to complete the task and leave as soon as possible. He added replying to a question if it is possible to complete the job within 90 days "I do not want to put 90 days as a mark on the wall, we will be here as long as it takes." However, the chairman of the foreign relations committee at the US senate, the Republican senator Richard Lugar said that the matter might take five years at least before a new government is established and starts its work in Baghdad.

Lugar explained, amid reports saying that the US administration seeks preparations for a long-term military presence in Iraq, that what the US is doing under the leadership of Gen. Garner to start building post war Iraq has started without preperations and very late, as Shiite Muslims and others want to establish a religious state for filling a political vacuum. He added " I think we have to think of a period of time not less than five years."

Previous Stories:
  Two top Iraqi figures captured, U.S. military reports   (4/21/2003)
  Gen. Garner heads to Baghdad; No mass destruction weapons found   (4/21/2003)
  Demonstration in Baghdad rejecting occupation; US forces redeployed   (4/19/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search