Bremer discuss formation of ruling council with Iraqi opposition groups; Egypt - US consultations
Iraq-USA, Military, 7/12/2003

News reports in Cairo said that an American delegation including 12 persons arrived in Cairo on Thursday evening in order to hold talks with Egyptian officials on the future of the American occupation of Iraq and the extent of Cairo's readiness to take part in political and military missions in Iraq in the coming phase.

The news reports said that the delegation whose visit is secretly made will debate to Egypt, the American perspective for the formation of the ruling Iraqi council.

The US civil administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, discussed on Thursday details of the proposal to form an Iraqi provisional ruling council with important political groups in the country.

The spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress, Intifad Qanbar, said that the "ruling party" which has been waiting for, for long, will be declared shortly" to fill the authority gap resulting from the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein on April 9th.

The conference's official, one of the seven Iraqi groups which took part in the talks which were held in Baghdad added that details of the ruling council and its authority and work scale were discussed. Qanbar said that the participating Iraqi sides are putting pressure to form the council and the provisional government as soon as possible. He expressed his conviction that Iraq will witness the formation of an Iraqi government before the end of the current month.

At the beginning, Bremer proposed the formation of a consultation council but the opposition shown by the political parties pushed him to amend his plan and change the name of the council and give it certain authorities.

Bremer said that Qanbar gave large and important concessions when he announced the formation of a ruling council, adding that the council will enjoy enough executive authorities for running the affairs of the country.

The seven groups are Iraqi groups formed in exile and that returned back to Baghdad following the fall of Saddam Hussein on April 9th. In addition to the Iraqi National Congress, the groups include the "Higher Council For the Islamic Revolution in Iraq," which is a Shiite group, the Islamic Dawa party and the two main Kurdish parties. All these groups are expected to form the backbone for the council.

The groups which took part in the meeting called for quick hand over of the authority for a wholly Iraqi government. Some say that the US has not fulfilled its obligations towards forming a provisional authority under an American supervision quickly.

Previous Stories:
  Two attacks by Iraqi resistance in Falouja; US soldier killed   (7/10/2003)
  Occupation wants to privatize oil, Saddam declares himself resistance leader   (7/9/2003)
  Two American soldiers, one British wounded in two attacks in Iraq   (7/9/2003)
  Future Iraq army to be limited in size; Former soldiers to receive monthly stipends   (6/26/2003)

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