Bremer denies intention to postpone forming an interim government in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/19/2003

The chairman of the American civil administration in Iraq, Paul Bermer, has denies news that Washington intends to transfer the authority of an Iraqi Interim government as decided during the few coming weeks. He said that these news are groundless.

Bremer told journalists during his visit to Musil in north Iraq that he had read a report in the American press talking about the postponing of the formation of an interim government, noting he does not know the source of these stories. He said he will have more talks during this month with the Iraqi political leaders on forming this government.

The New York Times quoted the British envoy to Iraq John Sawreis saying that Bremer told the Iraqi leadership- which is composed of the two Kurdish leaders Masoud al-Barazani, Jalal al- Talabi, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmed Jalabi, the chairman of the Iraqi national reconciliation movement Eyad Ellawi, the deputy chairman of the Higher Council of the Islamic revolution Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, Nasir al- Jaderji and a representative for al-Dawa' ( call) party during a meeting he held with them on Friday- that the coalition prefer to return back to the concept of creating an Interim authority rather than forming an Interim government. He stressed to them that the Iraqis will help this authority through consultancy posts to be appointed in this authority.

The paper said that member of the Iraqi leadership committee expressed their regret over the USA backtracking from commitment on forming an interim Iraqi government.

In the same context, a group naming itself al-Munadilin ( the militants ) for the Baath Arab Socialist Party extended an open message to Bremer denouncing his decision which he had called "purifying the Iraqi society from members of the Baath Party." The message questioned on how some 15 million Iraqi Baathists will be purified, considering this decision as contradictory with criterion on democracy and human rights alleged by the USA.

The message called on Bremer to study the history of the Baath party, apart from the practices of Saddam Hussein, his relatives and family, noting that they had committed a massacre to liquidate the Party leadership in 1999.

In the battlefield, the American central leadership said that one American soldier was killed and other three wounded in a neglected ammunition store explosion in Baghdad.

In a statement, the leadership said that the injured soldiers were admitted to a mobile clinic and an investigation was opened to find out the implications of the explosion.

The statement, on the other hand, said that a truck belongs to the American army was hit by RPJ shells on Saturday evening, when it was in an Iraqi fuel warehouse in Baghdad, adding that the attack did not result in human casualties but the truck was destroyed.

The statement said that the truck was on a humanitarian mission when it was attacked and that the Marines arrested four Iraqis for interrogation. In another incident, two American soldiers were injured when a truck for the American army was attacked near al-Bananeyah to the west of Baghdad by RPJ shelling and the two wounded were admitted to hospital and an investigation was opened.

Meantime, an American officer announced that the American forces arrested 129 persons in Baghdad, accused of looting acts and of opening fire at American forces, noting that night patrols will be run together with the Iraqi police as from yesterday ( Sunday).

In a later development, news reports said that the American forces released the Sheikh of Rakan al-Edwan tribe yesterday at dawn in Baghdad. He was arrested over being suspected that he has Saddam Hussein at his house.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq: an Italian diplomat runs the culture; New York police commissioner organizes ministry of interior   (5/17/2003)
  American forces arrest Iraq's ambassador to Egypt   (5/17/2003)
  US promise to tighten security; Iraqis call for foreigners to get out   (5/15/2003)

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