Iraq Asks U.N. for Help With New Gov't

[radwriter0555]

By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi Governing Council asked the United Nations (news - web sites) on Wednesday for help putting together a new government, a council spokesman said.

The council requested that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) send a U.N. team back to Iraq (news - web sites) to help organize a government that would take over from the U.S.-led coalition June 30, council spokesman Hamid al-Kafaai told The Associated Press.

The letter sent by council president Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum, a Shiite cleric, also requested technical assistance in preparation for a general election due by the end of January 2005.

"The Governing Council has asked that the United Nations offers advice to Iraq in the field of elections and the formation of a transitional government," al-Kafaai said.


The United States has urged a U.N. role in the U.S.-backed political process for Iraq, and coalition spokesman Dan Senor welcomed news of the invitation.


The announcement of the invitation, decided in a council meeting Wednesday, followed remarks to reporters by Bahr al-Ulloum's deputy that Iraq's most powerful Shiite cleric and his supporters on the U.S.-appointed Governing Council were unhappy with a U.N. report last month that found Iraq unready for elections ahead of June 30.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040317/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_politics_3

[tobius]

1. anyone think the UN will go back in? they left in a hurry last year. nt

[Just Me]

2. Not until the US gives them the authority necessary to do their job.

Along with the necessary security protection. Maybe the UN will go for it. I don't know. I wouldn't,...not without both written assurances from the US that the UN will be given both the authority and security necessary to assist the Iraqi people.

[tlcandie]

3. Doubtful because the US won't let go of the strings...

They want the appearances of the UN overseeing, but they don't want them to in actuality.

Smoke and mirrors pony show or nothing for this cabal...

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. But Georgie Boy is getting desperate

and it is an election year. He'd be a fool not to leap on this opportunity.

Spain said they would stay only if the UN took over. That is one of the big reasons the Iraqi Governing Council made this request today.

I am sure that if the UN allows the US to keep control of the oil fields and to keep our bases, we will be more than happy come June 30th to hand over everything else to the UN or NATO.

[tlcandie]

5. Then count him/them fools because their greed/lust for power is

stronger than any common sense IMO!