Italians and the Situation in Iraq

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini stressed the importance for the UN to play pivotal role in Iraq to ensure transferring the authority to the Iraqis by 30 June 2004.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Frattini asserted the importance of establishing an Iraqi government that represents the Iraqi people, calling on the European Union to exert efforts to make the United Nations responsible for stability in Iraq.

For his part, Secretary General of the Italian Democratic left Party called on the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to stand before the Parliament to be questioned about his policy in Iraq. Other parties called for the Italian forces withdrawal from Iraq.