US for a peace-loving Iraq

The Turkish daily Joumhureyet said on Monday that the American diplomat at the US embassy in Ankara, Frank Ricciardone, has expressed the desire of the United States to see a new Iraq, "stable and peace loving."

The paper quoted Ricciardone, who is in charge of coordinating the Iraqi opposition, as saying, "We see there is a need to establish a democratic government in Baghdad," adding that, "The rule of Saddam Hussein will only help worsen conditions in Iraq. Our objective is to help Iraq learn how to stand on its feet once again."

The American diplomat said the Iraqi people are hostages in their country, adding that the ones who will make a political change in Iraq are the Iraqi people themselves.