Iraq interim council claims no disagreement with US on authority transfer

The Iraqi Governing Council and the United States are not at odds over the timing of the transfer of power in Iraq, members of the Governing Council said September 24.

Ahmed Chalabi, current president of the council, said, "We have no disagreement with the United States government. We are not at odds with the United States. We are grateful to President Bush and we are working with the United States to achieve our common objective of a democratic, pluralist constitution for Iraq which will be approved by referendum."

"In terms of the investment of blood and treasure that we have made -- and that we are prepared to continue making -- to ensure a stable, democratic Iraq ... we want ... an Iraq that ... [has] a constitutional basis for ... democracy. That is why we feel very strongly that this process of full transfer of authority to an Iraqi government can only be completed when they have an elected government," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.