London: Iraq will eventually have a Democratic government, but after the fall of
Saddam Hussein's regime it must initially be run by occupying coalition forces, the
British government has said.
"There will initially have to be a military occupation because that is the only
legal base and practical base for running the country," Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
told British Broadcasting Corporation television on April 3.
However, he said Britain and America would hand power over to a UN-backed Iraqi
administration as soon as possible.
"What we want to see is a very, very swift transition ...to a situation where we set
up an interim Iraqi administration and then a more permanent one which is a
government of the Iraqis, for the Iraqis, by the Iraqis."
Asked if the ultimate goal was a Democratic Iraq, the Foreign Secretary
answered, "Yes, I am quite sure we will be able to achieve that. It will take some
time."
Britain has urged a strong role for the United Nations in rebuilding Iraq. But US
President George W Bush's administration appears less enthusiastic about giving the
United Nations a major role in post-war Iraq.
