American Director of Civil Affairs in Iraq to Appoint a Temporary Iraqi Political Council to Assist in Governance - 2003-06-02

A senior American official in Iraq states that the American director of civil affairs in Iraq will appoint a temporary Iraqi political council to assist in the administration of Iraq. American and British officials had previously stated that Iraqis should appoint their own temporary government by forming a national assembly. The American official, who requested to remain unnamed for now, says the proposed council will consist of 25 to 30 Iraqi leaders who will be selected in consultation with the people of Iraq. The Washington Post reports that leaders of former Iraqi exile groups have criticized this American plan, claiming that ordinary Iraqis will perceive this action as a move to prevent even nominal participation in their country's affairs. Meanwhile, the British government has justified its decision to participate in the war against Iraq led by the United States, stating that Prime Minister Tony Blair did not deceive the public regarding the primary reason for the war against Saddam Hussein's regime, which was the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, stated in a radio interview in Britain that the government did not mislead the public, asserting that most evidence against Saddam Hussein was found in the files of United Nations weapons inspectors. Clare Short, former Secretary of State for International Development in Britain, has stated that Mr. Blair deceived the British public and Parliament. The British Parliament is expected to seek explanations from Mr. Blair this week regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.