White House says democracy, freedom and tolerance are priority in Iraq

Asked about a proposal by Shi'ite Muslims to make Iraq an Islamic state, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the "principles of democracy and freedom and tolerance" are "not inconsistent with a state that has religious elements to it." He added that Iran would not be an appropriate model for reform.

He said "Iran certainly is not an example of a democracy or a country in which people are free," said Fleischer. "We want to make certain," he said, that the ousted dictatorship "is not replaced by another, different type of dictatorship."

"The goals of a liberated Iraq, from the point of view about what type of government the United States seeks, is a democracy -- a country that welcomes different religions, that has freedom of speech, freedom to worship, a free press," Fleischer said.

He said the United States seeks a united Iraq that includes Shi'ites, Sunnis, Kurds and others. Throughout the reconstruction process, the principles of democracy, freedom and tolerance are priorities, he said.