Bremer talks about ' embassies for the occupation after June 30: We withdraw from cemeteries at the request of clergies
Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004

The American administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, yesterday considered the occurrence of a civil war in Iraq as "a weak possibility," and that the attempt made by the executors of the two massacres in Karbala and Baghdad is to implant tension in the country and "will not succeed."

He noted simultaneously that the occupation authority will be converted after handing over the authority to the Iraqis to "embassies" resuming through the countries participating in ruling Iraq, its natural diplomatic relations with it.

Bremer said that the government which will resume the authority at its transfer on June 30th is one of the "issues we have discussed with the governing council.. this is the preoccupation of a wide sector of the Iraqi people.." he added " there is a real opportunity to expand the political base of the interim government," noting that "vast discussions are taking place in the local and municipal councils and in the governing council and the bar associations and women federations" on that "government which will only stay in power for 6 months."

Bremer told the ABC news replying to a question on the possible eruption of a civil war, "I do believe the matter is very likely." He added that Iraq is "a divided society and the repression practiced by Saddam Hussein along 35 years have enhanced the split. But he considered that it is remarkable that this rift has caused only small amount of tension "during the past 6 months" and following the attacks took place in recent days.

Bremer continued that the Jordanian Musab al-Zirqawi, whom he held responsible for the two recent massacres in Iraq that "he is alive and is in Iraq. And we will arrest him sooner or later.." He said that al-Zarqawi has since 6 months pursued a method of employing foreign elements from outside Iraq including Yemenis, Afghans, Sudanese, and Saudis to implement attacks like those that targeted Karbala and Baghdad.

Replying to a question on that the Shiite clergy held the occupation forces the responsibility for the two massacres, Bremer said "the coalition forces abstained deliberately from entering or approaching the holy shrines at the request of the Shiite clergies" on al-Kazemeyah, Baghdad and Karbala.

Bremer added replying a question put by the Iraqi TV on the situation of the occupation authority after handing over the authority on June 30 that "the coalition as an authority I represent will not be here." He added "we will hand the authority to an Iraqi government which will establish diplomatic relations with the governments of the coalition forces and the coalition authority will be converted to a very big embassy for the US, and embassies for Britain, Australia, Italy and Spain."

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