St Petersburg talks call UN to administer Iraq: "From the EU Observer :
Vladimir Putin, Gerhard Schröder et Jacques Chirac gathered over the weekend in Saint Petersburg and stressed again that the United Nations (UN) should have the central role in an Iraqi post-war administration. The leaders of Russia, Germany and France asked however that the chaos left after the fall of Saddam Hussein should be cleared first..."
Jacques Chirac insisted however that only the UN has the legitimacy of restoring the political, economical and social system of Iraq. He added that the three countries demand that the authority of the organisation should be respected. And if the UN needed to be reformed, "we are ready to do it", he added.
His comments were backed by German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder who said that the United Nations remained ''the sole world body based on universal values and legal principles''...
Russia, France and Germany "practically share the same views" on the key issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed.
In Command Post
Kuwaiti Volunteers Search For Missing In Iraq: "
A team of Kuwaiti volunteers is in Iraq seeking news of more than 600 people who disappeared during Baghdad's 1990-91 occupation of the emirate.
Team leader Nasser al-Duwailah told the state KUNA news agency Monday that the 12-member group of civilian and military volunteers is determined to exhaust all channels to find the prisoners, an issue that has cast a shadow over Kuwait since its liberation from Iraqi occupation more than 12 years ago.
The team is coordinating with the ministry of foreign affairs and coalition forces as well as Iraqi civilians, and will form smaller groups that will head for different areas in Iraq on Tuesday as part of a two-week mission to try to trace the missing, Duwailah said.
( AFP )
"
In Command Post
I see nuthink!: "re: Committed to impartiality
Date: 14 April 2003
Sir - You criticised the BBC correspondent in Baghdad for a truthful report the weekend before last that he could not yet see any American troops in the city (leading article, April 10). Once the BBC could confirm details, we updated our reports. The BBC is committed to impartiality.
From:
Richard Sambrook, Director of BBC News, London W14
I have responded to this interesting letter."
In Command Post
British official - Baghdad administration coming soon: "Reuters reports:
The top British official involved in the U.S. effort to run post-Saddam Hussein Iraq said on Monday he hoped an administration would be set up in Baghdad in two weeks and the first Iraqi oil sales in three months."
Asked if an elected government could be set up within six months, Brigadier General Tim Cross said: "I don't think so, one has to go through the process of building from the bottom up. That full electoral process may well take longer."
In Command Post
