Belfast: US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on April 8
endorsed a "vital role" for the United Nations in Iraq and called for world unity
over the country when fighting ends.
London and Washington hope their agreed vision of the post-war stages in Iraq will
placate anti-war nations such as France, Germany and Russia, and appease widespread
international suspicion of US motives in Iraq.
"We are of course agreed, as we say in our joint statement, that there will be a
vital role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq," Blair told a news
conference at his summit meeting with Bush in Northern Ireland.
Bush used the same words, and added he wanted Iraq to move fast towards establishing
an interim authority of Iraqis.
"We will move as quickly as possible to place governmental responsibilities under
the control of an interim authority composed of Iraqis from both inside and outside
the country," Bush told the news conference at Hillsborough Castle.
"The interim authority will serve until a permanent government can be chosen by the
Iraqi people," he added.
