Mubarak: Iraqis should take over own government 'as soon as possible'

In the first official Arab comment on the developments in Baghdad, President Hosni Mubarak yesterday called for allowing the Iraqis to assume the responsibilities of government of their country as soon as possible.

"Iraq must be governed again by its own people as soon as possible...this is the fastest way to ensure stability for the Iraqi people," Mubarak said.

President Mubarak expressed regret over recent events in Iraq and the conditions to which the Iraqis are being subjected.

"Over the past two days I have been following the tragic situation of the Iraqi people at this critical stage," President Mubarak said in exclusive statements to the editor-in-chief of the official Middle East News Agency (MENA).

"It is absolutely imperative that the Iraqis take charge of running their country as soon as possible. I have great faith that an Iraq governed by Iraqis at the earliest date is the swiftest way to achieve and consolidate stability for the Iraqi people," Mubarak said.