United Nations: Iraq's United Nations Ambassador Mohammad Al-Douri, who has defended
his country and asserted that Baghdad did not possess weapons of mass destruction,
has met Secretary General Kofi Annan, but did not ask for either asylum or
protection.
Neither the United Nations nor Al-Douri would reveal the content of discussions of
April 10, but the Ambassador did say that he does not now represent any government
as there is no government in Iraq but that he does represent his country.
Arab diplomats said Al-Douri may leave for Baghdad soon. The Iraqi diplomats told
some diplomats on April 10 that he is expected to leave on April 10 night, but said
his plans were not finalised and he may remain in New York for a few more days.
With the US troops in the heart of Baghdad and statues of President Saddam being
toppled, Al-Douri on April 9 became the first Iraqi official to admit the defeat of
the government when he said "game is over".
In interviews on April 10, he expressed the hope that Iraqi people would be able
live in peace, without sanctions, without war and suffering.
He spoke about continuity of Iraqi state and said Iraqis would continue to work with
the United Nations though people might change.
Besides meeting Annan, Al-Douri spent several hours meeting with Ambassadors and
diplomats of various countries in the UN delegates lounge.
PTI
