Chalabi considers lifting sanctions as a perpetuation of Iraq's occupation

Reactions have continued on the UN Security Council resolution providing for lifting economic sanctions imposed on Iraq since 13 years.

To this effect, the chairman of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmed Chalabi, strongly criticized this decision especially the article which implicitly legalizes Iraq's occupation.

Chalabi said before the constituent conference of the Democratic Islamic trend in Baghdad that this resolution violates the agreement maintained with the American administration officials on the ground that its forces came to liberate Iraq rather than occupying it, noting that the decision includes regrettable items on that the American and British forces became occupation forces.

Chalabi considered that the Iraqi people have become in light of this resolution, restricted and unable to control its resources which are run by a development fund in Iraq which does not include in its composition even one Iraqi.

Views of the Iraqis have ranged regarding the resolution between optimism and those who considered its impact in the life of the Iraqis as not tangible and concrete in the short run.

However, most the Iraqi reactions agreed on considering the resolution as a perpetuation for the American occupation, besides accusing Washington of seeking to control the country's resources.