Turkey Announced Its Agreement to Send Troops to Iraq for Peacekeeping - 2003-04-20

Turkey announced its agreement to send its soldiers to Iraq for a peacekeeping mission. Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Foreign Minister, stated today that the Ankara government has agreed to the U.S. request for assistance in peacekeeping efforts and will inform Washington of its readiness in the coming days. The U.S. Army ground forces have taken over the post of maintaining order and providing urban services from the U.S. Marine Corps and have also involved Iraqi police in maintaining the city's security. The International Committee of the Red Cross states that the living conditions of civilians have reached a very critical stage and has requested U.S. forces to quickly restore electricity, water, and other essential services in Baghdad. U.S. officials are trying to bring together various ethnic groups and political and religious factions in Iraq to form a new government. One individual who had been in exile for a long time stated today that committees have been formed to manage the affairs of the capital. These remarks were made by Mohammad Mohsen Zubaidi, who has declared himself responsible for Baghdad's affairs. However, the coalition forces managing Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein have not yet allowed any individual or group to take charge of the city of Baghdad.