[Media-watch] Iraq has become 'al-Qa'eda battleground' - Telegraph - 29/07/2004

[Julie-ann Davies]

PDF of  committee's report available here:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Politics/documents/2004/07/29/FAC_report.pdf

JA
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Iraq has become an 'al-Qa'eda battleground'
(Filed: 29/07/2004)

The coalition's failure to establish law and order in Iraq has enabled
al-Qa'eda to turn the country into a "battle ground", an influential Commons
committee has said.

The foreign affairs select committee said a "vacuum" has been created in
parts of the country into which criminals and militias have poured.

The MPs concluded that an insufficient number of foreign troops deployed to
Iraq has contributed to the deterioration in security.

The publication of the report follows a day of carnage in Iraq in which at
least 129 people were killed. A suicide bomb killed 71 Iraqis outside a
police station in Baquba and the country's fledgling army launched its
biggest offensive to date.

In a report on the foreign policy aspects of the war against terrorism, the
MPs said that the failure of countries other than Britain and America to
send significant numbers of armed personnel to Iraq has produced "serious
and regrettable consequences".

The MPs said the Government should make a renewed effort to persuade other
countries, including Islamic nations, to send troops.

Saudi Arabia has recently said that it would consider taking the lead in
forming a Muslim security force for Iraq.

The committee further warned that Iraq's own army and police remain "a long
way from being able to maintain security". It also voiced serious concerns
about the impact that continuing violence might have on elections planned
for the start of next year.

The report said: "It is of the utmost importance that current problems are
resolved in favour of the forces of order and that those who seek to impede
Iraq's transition to a free and democratic state are defeated."

The committee voiced concern that key information on intelligence and
alleged human rights violations by British soldiers was withheld from senior
Foreign Office officials and ministers.

The report criticises the fact that the claim in the Government's dossier
claiming that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within
45 minutes was only given to some officials in June 2003, nearly a year
after its publication

The distribution of the Red Cross report relating to alleged mistreatment of
Iraqi prisoners by allied troops was also criticised. Ministers received
copies of the report on May 10, more than two months after the Red Cross
presented the information.

The committee concluded that the coalition still has a lot of work to do if
Iraq is to be stabilised. It stressed the importance of getting on top of
the security situation and ensuring that the elections were a success.

It also stressed the importance of encouraging other states to commit troops
to Iraq, in particular at the time of the election.