[Media-watch] US, Iraqis split over leadership - AP/Billings Gazette - 31/05/2004

[Julie-ann Davies]

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2004/05/31/build/world/50-iraqis-leadership-split.inc

U.S., Iraqis split over leadership
Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Differences between the Iraqi Governing Council and American
authorities over who should be Iraq's figurehead president stalled a final
agreement Sunday on the makeup of an interim government to take power June
30.

A council member said the United States and U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi
favored ex-Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi, who supports keeping foreign
troops in Iraq until the security situation is stabilized.

However, most of the 22 members of the Governing Council support the current
chairman, civil engineer Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, who has been more
critical of the U.S.-led occupation.

Both are Sunni Arab Muslims.

Council members said they would hold informal consultations late Sunday and
would meet again Monday to try to reach an agreement. Brahimi had hoped to
complete the selection of the 26-member Cabinet by Monday and sources close
to the deliberations said many of the posts had been tentatively filled.

In an interview to be published in today's Time magazine, Brahimi complained
that poor security and a lack of communication among Iraqis was making his
job more difficult.

"It's a very complicated business," Brahimi was quoted as saying. "The
security situation (in Iraq) is just impossible."

Coalition officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said none of the
selections would be considered final until all the posts - including the
presidency - had been filled.

Coalition spokesman Dan Senor denied the Americans were showing favoritism
toward Pachachi. "We are not pressuring or urging any one candidate over
another," he told reporters.

However, a member of the council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told
The Associated Press that the American governor of Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, and
Brahimi were exerting "massive pressure" to choose Pachachi.

Bremer and President Bush's special envoy, Robert Blackwill, attended part
of a five-hour council meeting Sunday and urged the members not to vote on
the presidency choice, apparently fearing that al-Yawer would win, council
sources said.

The Americans warned that if the council went ahead and voted, the United
States might not recognize the choice, the sources said on condition of
anonymity.

The Coalition Provisional Authority, run by Bremer, has the final say in all
policy decisions in Iraq.

Younadem Kana, an Assyrian Christian member of the Governing Council, told
Al-Jazeera television that "most of the voices" on the council wanted
al-Yawer for president. He predicted that the new government would be
announced Monday and the Governing Council would disband.

The tough stand by Bremer in support of Pachachi was unexpected because the
Americans had signaled they were primarily interested in approving the
choice for prime minister, the top executive job that went Friday to
U.S.-backed Iyad Allawi, a Shiite Muslim.

Before he was ousted, former President Saddam Hussein held all power in
Iraq - but the new president will be a largely figurehead position with the
real power in the hands of the prime minister.

The occupation formally ends in one month - on June 30 - but more than
135,000 U.S. forces and 19,000 soldiers from Britain and other nations will
remain.

Pachachi, who fled to the United Arab Emirates after Saddam Hussein's Baath
Party seized power in 1968, is well-connected within the United States,
United Nations and pro-U.S. nations of the Gulf.

The 81-year-old was instrumental in overseeing the drafting of an interim
constitution that U.S. officials have hailed as among the most progressive
and democratic in the Arab world. He's also one of the strongest pro-U.S.
voices on the Iraqi Governing Council

Although the interim constitution remains in effect only until a new one is
ratified next year, the Americans hope major elements of the temporary
document - including women's rights and limits on the role of Islam - will
be adopted in the final charter.

During a recent television interview, al-Yawer, who routinely wears
traditional Arab robes and head gear, was sharply critical of the American
occupation, blaming U.S. ineptness for the deteriorating law and order.

"We blame the United States 100 percent for the security in Iraq," al-Yawer
said. "They occupied the country, disbanded the security agencies and for 10
months left Iraq's borders open for anyone to come in without a visa or even
a passport."

Al-Yawer, who is in his 40s, urged Iraqis to come together so they can tell
the Americans to go home. However, he also has denounced violence against
American and other coalition forces.

"We should resist (the occupation) with our thoughts, our positions and
political work and that is the best way. Violence breeds violence." he said.

On the other hand, Pachachi, who favors Western attire, has said foreign
troops must remain in Iraq until the violence is quelled and the army and
police are fully prepared to protect the nation.

Al-Yawer took over as head of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council earlier
in May after the assassination of the previous chief Abdel-Zahraa Othman,
better known as Izzadine Saleem. He is a member of one of the largest tribes
in the region and has the support of Shiite and Kurdish council members.

Several names have emerged for Cabinet posts.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a French-educated senior member of the Supreme Council of
the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, was mentioned as a candidate for a key
Cabinet post, possibly finance. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, was
rumored to be in line for the defense ministry post or to keep his current
portfolio.

Barham Salih, a leader in the Kurdish autonomous region, was reported in
line to become foreign minister if Zebari moves to defense. Thamir Ghadbhan
was said to be the likely oil minister.

The next Iraqi government will serve from June 30 until elections are held
by Jan. 31.