New Govt Takes Control 2 Days Early
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| Mon, 06-28-2004 - 11:20am |
Published: June 28, 2004
AGHDAD, Iraq, June 28 — In a surprise, secret ceremony that was hastily convened to decrease the chances of more violence, United States officials today handed over sovereignty to Iraqi leaders, formally ending the American occupation two days earlier than scheduled.
In a tightly guarded room behind high walls, L. Paul Bremer III, the top United States administrator, presented a formal letter recognizing Iraq's sovereignty to Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Just 30 or so people were present for what Dr. Allawi described as the "historic" handover.
A few hours later, Mr. Bremer flew off on a military plane, leaving behind a country stunned by the sudden transfer of authority. Shortly afterward, Dr. Allawi was formally sworn in as Prime Minister.
In Istanbul, where he was attending a meeting of NATO leaders, President Bush said "the Iraqi people have their country back."
Appearing with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, the United States' principal ally in the invasion of Iraq, Mr. Bush said: "Fifteen months after the liberation of Iraq and two days ahead of schedule, the world witnessed the arrival of a full sovereign and free Iraq."
"This is a historic day," said the Iraqi interim president, Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar . "We want a free, democratic Iraq that will be a source of peace and stability for the region and the whole world. We would like to express our thanks to our friends in the Coalition for the efforts and dedication they have spent."
The president added: "We want to tell them all their sacrifices will not go in vain. We are determined, we are committed, there is no way to turn back."
United States officials said the handover — to an interim government, in advance of general elections expected in January — is the crucial first step on Iraq's path to democracy.
"We welcome Iraq's steps to take its rightful place with sovereignty and honor among the free nations of the world," Mr. Bremer said.
But one of the new government's first actions as a sovereign power may be the imposition of martial law to crack down on guerrillas. Insurgents have stepped up attacks in recent weeks, presumably in an effort to disrupt a peaceful and orderly transition. Last Thursday, more than 100 people were killed in a series of apparently coordinated explosions in five Iraqi cities.
Already security forces, responding to today's announcement, were locking down sections of the capital. Several hotels refused to let guests go in or out, thousands of police stepped into the streets and American fighter jets cut arcs in the sky over Baghdad. Both American and Iraqi officials said they were expecting the handover to be marred by significant terrorist attacks.
Mr. Bush, gathered with NATO heads of state at a table at the summit, marked the transfer with a whispered comment and a handshake with Mr. Blair, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Looking at his watch to make sure the transfer had occurred, Mr. Bush put his hand over his mouth to guard his remarks, leaned toward Mr. Blair and then reached out to shake hands, the A.P. reported.
After the handover in Baghdad, the members of the interim government moved to a stage to be sworn in. They pledged to uphold a unified, democratic system; to take care of Iraq's people and resources, and to apply all legislation with sincerity.
Thanking Iraq's Arab neighbors and the coalition forces that "liberated Iraq," Dr. Allawi then laid out a broad agenda that included tackling unemployment, developing resources, rethinking investment laws, promoting the private sector, developing a national army and restoring full capacity to the oil sector, which has been damaged in sabotage attacks.
He also referred to the challenges of unifying a country with diverse ethnic groups including Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens, and he promised to uphold Islamic values, according to a CNN translation of his Arabic remarks.
"Iraq is now at a setback but it is temporary," Dr. Allawi said, standing before members of the government seated in front of a row of Iraqi flags. "We will rise up like mountains, standing firm, and we will protect all people regardless of religion, color and every other consideration.
"Pluralism should be a factor of progress, not divisiveness," he said.
He also made it clear that the new government would be tough on insurgents.
"We will be on the lookout for them and chase them and bring them to justice to get their fair punishment," he said.
Although Dr. Allawi's government will have "full sovereignty," according to a United Nations Security Council resolution earlier this month, there will be limits.
The new Iraqi government, consisting of many wealthy exiles who spent years away from Iraq, is barred from making long-term policy decisions and will not control the 160,000 foreign troops remaining in the country. The government has the right to ask them to leave — but has made clear it has no intention of doing so.
Last week Dr. Allawi was quoted as saying the deteriorating security situation might force elections to be postponed. But today he told reporters, "The Iraqi government is determined to go ahead with elections on January 2 of next year."
Also today, American officials said they had little further information on the fate of the Cpl. Wassef Hassoun, the missing United States marine whom kidnappers have threatened to behead.
Marine officials said Corporal Hassoun, a 24-year-old Muslim of Lebanese descent, was last seen June 19. He failed to report for duty on June 20.
On Sunday night, a little known group called the "Islamic Reaction," released a videotape on Arab television networks saying they had lured Corporal Hassoun off an American military base and abducted him. The group is threatening to kill the corporal unless the United States releases all Iraqi prisoners. The group did not give a deadline.
Four other men, three Turks and a Pakistani, are in similar circumstances, with kidnappers saying the hostages will be beheaded unless their demands are met.
American officials have blamed many of the kidnappings and terror attacks in Iraq on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian fugitive thought to have trained in chemical weapons in Afghanistan.
Today, rumors began to circulate that Mr. Zarqawi, who has a $10-million reward on his head, had been captured in Hilla, south of Baghdad and the scene of a recent suicide attack.
Gen. Mark Kimmitt, a coalition spokesman, however, denied those reports today and said Mr. Zarqawi is not in custody.
Christine Hauser contributed reporting from New York for this article.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=14&u=/ap/20040628/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_arab_view_3
By JAMAL HALABY, Associated Press Writer
AMMAN, Jordan - Arabs welcomed Iraq (news - web sites)'s formal return to self-rule Monday, but many cautioned that real power would remain with the Americans as long as U.S. troops were in the country.
The transfer of power was a "landmark" in Iraq's history, Jordan's King Abdullah II said in a message to Baghdad's interim leaders.
The king said Jordan will help Iraq "regain its position as an independent and democratic nation enjoying freedom and prosperity."
Jordanian government spokeswoman Asma Khader said the transfer of power raised hopes for eventual security inside its neighbor.
"Jordan welcomes this development and considers it a step toward rebuilding political, economic, security and social institutions in Iraq," Khader told The Associated Press.
U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer carried out the transfer of sovereignty two days earlier than scheduled in an apparent bid to throw off insurgents who may have tried to sabotage the process. Bremer handed over sovereignty documents to Iraqi Chief Justice Mahdi al-Mahmood in a small ceremony in Baghdad attended by Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
In Syria, the chief editor of the official Al-Baath newspaper, Mahdi Dakhlallah, called the handover "a step toward restoring independence and sovereignty in Iraq."
But a Syrian analyst said Iraq still was not in control.
"Occupation will wear a new dress," said Haitham Kilani, an independent political researcher in Damascus. "The occupation will remain so long as the U.S.-British forces are still stationed there."
In Cairo, Egyptians voiced similar views.
"Giving sovereignty to Iraqis is just a matter of improving the image," said Hassan el-Noubi, a security guard. "As long as the American soldiers are there, they didn't really hand over control."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said the handover would help reduce the violence that has plagued Iraq since March 2003.
"I personally think that once the Iraqis feel that they are their own masters, and they have a government that has power, then this will make the restoration of stability easier," Maher said.
Kuwait's prime minister, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah congratulated interim Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer, the official Kuwait News Agency reported. Sheik Sabah said he hoped the transfer of power would "lay the foundations of security and stability."
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said in Cairo he hopes the interim government will be able to "exercise its sovereignty and power in a way that will bring it legitimacy."
Iranian government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said Tehran welcomed "any step toward the transfer of Iraqi affairs to the Iraqi people and the termination of occupation."
Iraqis living in Jordan questioned the motives of the interim Iraqi government.
"The members of the Iraqi government couldn't care less for the Iraqi people," said Leila Oman, a 66-year-old housewife who has lived in Jordan since 1995.
"They are enjoying power and will remain in it to help the Americans and steal the wealth of Iraqi people and make the poor poorer."
Adnan Hamad, a retired Iraqi civil servant in Jordan, called the transfer of sovereignty "American propaganda."
"The Iraqi people will not benefit from the so-called 'transfer of authority' because the new government will abide by the orders of the occupation," said Hamad, 75. "There could never be sovereignty or independence in Iraq while there is one occupation soldier in my country."
Iraq borders both Jordan, which maintains close relations with the United States, and Syria, which staunchly opposed the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Syrian Information Ministry official Ahmad Haj Ali said that what the interim Iraqi government should do is strive to get the U.S. troops to leave.
"There will be great security problems as a result of the U.S. presence," Haj Ali told the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera. "The government can make it if it adheres to its programs and ends the presence of the U.S. and other troops."
In Bahrain, historian Essa Amin said all the Americans had done was hand over the problems to an Iraqi government.
"I don't think anything has changed," Amin told The Associated Press. "Bremer is gone, but a new (U.S.) ambassador is in, and the Iraqis will not have complete decision-making powers."
Iraqi's blog post about the handover
Renee ~~~
Condi informed Bush of the handover with this note. Bush's response is in the lower left corner.
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/06/28/iraq.handover/top.note.ap.jpg
Renee ~~~
Iraqi doctor's account of the transfer of power
http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/archives/2004_06_01_iraqthemodel_archive.html#108851118113969316
Renee ~~~
<<However, at this point it is best to remain optimistic, and to hope and try for the best. It can go either way and there is still elections to be held. I am sure for most Iraqis becuase of this transfer, their life has not changed from the day before. So in a year I am sure this will be a great a debate dont you think?>>
I think it's an important event that, one would hope, all view with optimism. It is a time to commemorate and celebrate with hopeful Iraqis.
There will be plenty of time to debate Iraq's final outcome and every winding step along the way.
Renee ~~~
<>
Aww, that is so sweet of you.
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
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