Iraqis give UN time-table to end occupation

In a letter to the Security Council, Jalal Talabani, the current President of the Governing Council, pledged respect for human rights and promised to establish the ‘‘principle of civilian control over the armed forces’’. His letter did not mention deployment of US and other troops.

The 24-member US-appointed Council said it would select a ‘‘provisional legislative body’’ no later than May 31. This Assembly would elect a provisional government by the end of June 2004 at which time ‘‘the Coalition Provisional Authority will be dissolved and the occupation…will end,’’ the letter said.

A new Constitution would be drafted by March 15, 2005 and presented to Iraqis in a referendum, after which a general election is to take place, before December 31, 2005, according to Talabani’s letter. ‘‘In light of what had transpired, it has become appropriate for the Security Council to adopt a new resolution taking into consideration the new circumstances,’’ he wrote.

The US and Britain are considering a new resolution that would welcome or endorse the accelerated time-table, which Washington had opposed in October.

France, Russia and Germany told the Council on Friday that they would like to see any new resolution give the UN a role in the transition, and urge a broader participation of Iraqi political groups, an apparent reference to nationalists and members of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist party. (Reuters)