Vote on Iraq Interim Government Extended

National Conference Likely in July, Bremer Says

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A national conference that will pick Iraq's new interim government will probably be delayed until mid-July, the top U.S. official in Iraq said Wednesday.

Six weeks after the U.S. military took Baghdad and Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, Iraq remains without a formal government. Ministries are operating under American auspices, staffed by Iraqis who know their employment may be limited.

"We're talking now like sometime in July to get a national conference put together," said L. Paul Bremer, Iraq's U.S. civilian administrator. "I don't think it will be in June."

He estimated the conference would be held in mid-July, adding that an earlier June deadline was an artificial one devised by the press. Other Western officials have said the plan was to assemble about 300 representatives from Iraq's many factions who would elect a new authority.

"I'm not going to stick myself with any kind of media deadline," Bremer added during a tour of the just-renovated al-Karkh jail in central Baghdad.

Until Wednesday, U.S. officials working to build an interim Iraqi government had insisted that no plans have been changed. But they also refused to repeat the timetable outlined after President Bush's envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, held an April 28 conference with Iraqi political leaders. That timetable called for some form of interim government in early June.

Bremer did not say what caused the delay.

"We are continuing our active dialogue with Iraqi leaders, we are meeting with them every day," Bremer said.

The earlier U.S. goal of establishing the best Iraqi government that could be sworn in quickly also appears to have been brushed aside. Bremer confirmed Wednesday that his goal was to establish a government "representative of all Iraqis," a larger undertaking in a nation divided along ethnic, religious and political lines.

"We're going to broaden our reach with partners we're talking to," Bremer said.

"We want a government representative of all Iraqi people," he said. "That's the process we're in now. We are moving as quickly as we can."

Bremer's aim to build a more inclusive government could negate the results of a conference of seven leading Iraqi political figures held Friday.

Bremer said that meeting, billed as a meeting of political figures likely to form the core of a new government, wasn't "representative of the Iraqi people."

Bremer had reported on Friday that the group had agreed on three priorities: restoring security, building democracy and rooting out the remnants of Saddam's Baath Party.

Despite the delays in forming a government, Bremer said coalition forces would stay in Iraq only as long as they were needed.

"We have no strategic desire to be in Iraq any longer than we have to," he said.

While muggings, shootings and thefts continue to plague Baghdad and, to a lesser extent, the rest of Iraq, Bremer focused on recent positive changes.

"Life is getting better for Iraqis very quickly," he said, adding that additional U.S. troops and a newly reconstituted Baghdad police force were attacking the problems.

"We certainly have a law and order problem in Baghdad we're trying to deal with," Bremer said. "We're trying to deliver security to the Iraqi people."

Bernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner, accompanied Bremer on the tour after arriving Tuesday to become Bremer's adviser on law enforcement issues.

Asked whether Baghdad's 8,000-man civilian police force was sufficient for a city of five million, Kerik replied: "They're going to need more."

Bremer and his entourage also heard a briefing from U.S. Military Police in a nearby building, where Capt. Charles Baysinger, commander of the 1139th Military Police Company, described joint U.S.-Iraqi patrols throughout Baghdad.

Baysinger also said Baghdad police, previously restricted to carrying single-shot pistols, were now being allowed to carry AK-47 automatic rifles after undergoing a U.S. training course.

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	21.05.2003 \| washingtonpost.com / AP \| by Jim Krane Vote on Iraq Interim Government Extended National Conference Likely in July, Bremer Says BAGHDAD, Iraq - A national conference that will pick Iraq's new interim government will probably be delayed until mid-July, the top U.S. official in Iraq said Wednesday. Six weeks after the U.S. military took Baghdad and Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, Iraq remains without a formal government. Ministries are operating under American auspices, staffed by Iraqis who know their employment may be limited. "We're talking now like sometime in July to get a national conference put together," said L. Paul Bremer, Iraq's U.S. civilian administrator. "I don't think it will be in June." He estimated the conference would be held in mid-July, adding that an earlier June deadline was an artificial one devised by the press. Other Western officials have said the plan was to assemble about 300 representatives from Iraq's many factions who would elect a new authority. "I'm not going to stick myself with any kind of media deadline," Bremer added during a tour of the just-renovated al-Karkh jail in central Baghdad. Until Wednesday, U.S. officials working to build an interim Iraqi government had insisted that no plans have been changed. But they also refused to repeat the timetable outlined after President Bush's envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, held an April 28 conference with Iraqi political leaders. That timetable called for some form of interim government in early June. Bremer did not say what caused the delay. "We are continuing our active dialogue with Iraqi leaders, we are meeting with them every day," Bremer said. The earlier U.S. goal of establishing the best Iraqi government that could be sworn in quickly also appears to have been brushed aside. Bremer confirmed Wednesday that his goal was to establish a government "representative of all Iraqis," a larger undertaking in a nation divided along ethnic, religious and political lines. "We're going to broaden our reach with partners we're talking to," Bremer said. "We want a government representative of all Iraqi people," he said. "That's the process we're in now. We are moving as quickly as we can." Bremer's aim to build a more inclusive government could negate the results of a conference of seven leading Iraqi political figures held Friday. Bremer said that meeting, billed as a meeting of political figures likely to form the core of a new government, wasn't "representative of the Iraqi people." Bremer had reported on Friday that the group had agreed on three priorities: restoring security, building democracy and rooting out the remnants of Saddam's Baath Party. Despite the delays in forming a government, Bremer said coalition forces would stay in Iraq only as long as they were needed. "We have no strategic desire to be in Iraq any longer than we have to," he said. While muggings, shootings and thefts continue to plague Baghdad and, to a lesser extent, the rest of Iraq, Bremer focused on recent positive changes. "Life is getting better for Iraqis very quickly," he said, adding that additional U.S. troops and a newly reconstituted Baghdad police force were attacking the problems. "We certainly have a law and order problem in Baghdad we're trying to deal with," Bremer said. "We're trying to deliver security to the Iraqi people." Bernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner, accompanied Bremer on the tour after arriving Tuesday to become Bremer's adviser on law enforcement issues. Asked whether Baghdad's 8,000-man civilian police force was sufficient for a city of five million, Kerik replied: "They're going to need more." Bremer and his entourage also heard a briefing from U.S. Military Police in a nearby building, where Capt. Charles Baysinger, commander of the 1139th Military Police Company, described joint U.S.-Iraqi patrols throughout Baghdad. Baysinger also said Baghdad police, previously restricted to carrying single-shot pistols, were now being allowed to carry AK-47 automatic rifles after undergoing a U.S. training course. © 2003 The Associated Press WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: