THE TIMES OF INDIA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2003

Islamic states give nod to Iraq's governing council

REUTERS

UNITED NATIONS: The world's Islamic nations gave a nod to Iraq's Governing
Council on Tuesday and called for officials of Saddam Hussein's deposed
regime to be brought to justice for alleged mass killings.

Foreign ministers from the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference
also called on group members to provide "all forms of support and assistance
to meet Iraq's needs" so the war-torn country can quickly get back on its
feet.

The statement was sure to be a psychological boost to Baghdad's U.S. and
British military rulers, who have been under fire from the Muslim world
since invading Iraq in March without U.N. approval.

Despite U.S. denials, Muslims accused Washington of targeting Islam in its
efforts to stamp out terrorism.

The Islamic conference, in a statement issued after a meeting at U.N.
headquarters, called on the United States and Britain, who have run Iraq
since toppling Saddam, to respect Iraqi sovereignty and safeguard its civil
and religious liberties and cultural heritage.

But it also "condemned with deep sorrow" alleged mass killings of innocent
Iranians and Kuwaitis as well as Iraqis carried out by Iraq's former rulers.

"The meeting called for bringing to justice the officials of the former
Iraqi regime who committed such crimes," the statement said.

While welcoming the establishment of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council,
it stressed the right of the Iraqi people to fully control their natural
resources and "establish a fully representative and broad-based government."

The 25-member Governing Council was appointed in July by U.S. administrator
Paul Bremer, who can veto its decisions. Council members have been pressing
Washington to give it greater leeway to administer their oil-rich nation.

Under pressure from Security Council members eager for a time-line for Iraqi
sovereignty, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week he wanted
to see an Iraqi constitution ready for ratification in about six months so
Washington could quickly hand over power to an elected government.

But the Iraqi group working on the new constitution said it would be
impossible to complete the job within that time because of deep
disagreements over major issues, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

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