Post by bot on May 24, 2004 14:10:11 GMT -5
U.S. seeks U.N. approval of multinational force in Iraq
U.S. official: Plan is 'new beginning for Iraq'
Monday, May 24, 2004 Posted: 2:14 PM EDT (1814 GMT)
www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/24/iraq.main/index.html
U.S. soldiers secure area where an explosion destroyed a vehicle in Baghdad, killing two Britons.
VIDEO
A blast occurs outside Baghdad's "Green Zone," headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition.
PLAY VIDEO
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U.S. soldiers kill members of a radical cleric's militia and find an arms cache in Kufa.
PLAY VIDEO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A preview of Monday night's speech by President Bush on the power handover in Iraq.
PLAY VIDEO
RELATED
U.S. military denies report that Sanchez witnessed abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Bush to speak on handover
• Chalabi blames Tenet for feud
• Special Report: U.S. deaths
• Interactive: Governing Iraq
SPECIAL REPORT
• Transition of Power
• Life after War
• CNN/Money: Rebuilding Iraq
• War in Iraq
• Special Report
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The United States presented a draft U.N. resolution Monday that would give the U.N. Security Council's approval to a new Iraqi government and multinational peacekeeping force.
It also would formally end a yearlong U.S.-led occupational administration and authorize a multinational force under U.S. command for a year.
The resolution would recognize the planned handover of sovereignty on June 30, in which the U.S.-led administration would be dissolved and an interim government would rule in Baghdad until after elections, which are slated for January. (Proposal highlights)
U.N. envoy Lakdhar Brahimi is in talks to select members of the interim government.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said the proposed resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, "represents a new beginning for Iraq."
President Bush was expected to outline the command structure of the proposed peacekeeping force in a televised speech Monday at 8 p.m. ET, aides said.(Full story)
The country's security would be bolstered by a multinational force "under unified command," led by an American general, diplomats said. That force would have a one-year mandate that could be renewed by the Security Council or at the request of Iraq's government.
"The multinational force will be there with the agreement of the sovereign government of Iraq," Cunningham said. It would include a "distinct entity" dedicated to providing security for U.N. personnel and would assist in training, equipping and monitoring Iraqi security forces.
The resolution also would give the interim government control over oil revenues, though proceeds will continue to be deposited in the Development Fund for Iraq. That fund will continue to be monitored by an independent watchdog agency, the International Advisory and Monitoring Board.
The United States says it expects to keep nearly 140,000 troops in Iraq through 2005 to ensure the country's security. Britain and other allies have about 20,000 troops stationed in Iraq now.
The resolution is vague about the relationship between the Iraqi government and the multinational force, referring to arrangements under way to create a "partnership" with the U.S.-led troops.
Some U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about the lack, so far, of any agreement with an Iraqi government that would permit the presence of international troops on its soil. But British Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry said the force would remain "at the request of and with the consent of a government."
"We hope to get that consent by having a discussion with the putative government as soon as it's available, and we would have that discussion, we envisage, before the adoption of the resolution," he said.
Militiamen leave Karbala
In the Shiite Muslim holy city of Karbala some militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have left town, and Iraqi police have resumed patrols in the city, a U.S. military spokesman said Monday.
"It would appear that normal life is returning to the city of Karbala, absent the militia that had been holding the city hostage for so many weeks," said coalition military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt.
Coalition forces have been battling a militia loyal to al-Sadr in the region for weeks. Al-Sadr is wanted for questioning in the killing of a rival cleric last year.
In Baghdad, a blast killed two British civilians and wounded two others Monday, destroying an armored sport utility vehicle near an entrance to the "Green Zone," headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition, officials said.
The British Foreign Office did not release the identities of the victims.
The blast was originally thought to have been a car bomb, but U.S. military on the scene said an improvised explosive device near the SUV caused the explosion.
Controversial video released
A video of a wedding party -- purported to be the one some Iraqis say a U.S. airstrike hit last week -- failed Monday to shake the coalition's resolve that they bombed a high-level gathering of foreign fighters in the early morning attack.
The video, obtained and distributed by Associated Press Television News, shows a bride arriving, people dancing and a man playing the piano. That man appears to be one of the victims of the Wednesday morning attack, seen at his burial after the attack.
"Day after day after day as we continue to get more evidence in ... it is pretty clear to us that what happened that night -- from after midnight to about 0400 -- that the activities that we saw on the ground were somewhat inconsistent with a wedding party," said Kimmitt.
More than 40 people were killed in the attack. Local Iraqis said those numbers included women and children, but Kimmitt said the coalition had found no evidence that any children were killed.
Kimmitt noted that the video was done entirely in daylight hours, while the airstrike was under cover of darkness. But the general said the coalition had "made no determination" and was conducting a full investigation. (Full story)
Other developments
The U.S. military denied a Sunday report in The Washington Post alleging the top U.S. general in Iraq witnessed the abuse of Iraqi inmates. Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez stands by his testimony before congressional committees that he was unaware of the abuses until he ordered an investigation into allegations in January, according to a statement. (Full story)
Ahmed Chalabi, the former Iraqi exile who worked closely with the White House before the Iraq war, blamed CIA Director George Tenet on Sunday for recent allegations that have apparently caused his standing with the Bush administration to plummet. (Full story)
CNN's Jane Arraf, Elise Labott, Liz Neisloss and Guy Raz contributed to this report.
U.S. official: Plan is 'new beginning for Iraq'
Monday, May 24, 2004 Posted: 2:14 PM EDT (1814 GMT)
www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/24/iraq.main/index.html
U.S. soldiers secure area where an explosion destroyed a vehicle in Baghdad, killing two Britons.
VIDEO
A blast occurs outside Baghdad's "Green Zone," headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition.
PLAY VIDEO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. soldiers kill members of a radical cleric's militia and find an arms cache in Kufa.
PLAY VIDEO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A preview of Monday night's speech by President Bush on the power handover in Iraq.
PLAY VIDEO
RELATED
U.S. military denies report that Sanchez witnessed abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Bush to speak on handover
• Chalabi blames Tenet for feud
• Special Report: U.S. deaths
• Interactive: Governing Iraq
SPECIAL REPORT
• Transition of Power
• Life after War
• CNN/Money: Rebuilding Iraq
• War in Iraq
• Special Report
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Iraq
Armed Conflict
Military
or Create your own
Manage alerts | What is this?
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The United States presented a draft U.N. resolution Monday that would give the U.N. Security Council's approval to a new Iraqi government and multinational peacekeeping force.
It also would formally end a yearlong U.S.-led occupational administration and authorize a multinational force under U.S. command for a year.
The resolution would recognize the planned handover of sovereignty on June 30, in which the U.S.-led administration would be dissolved and an interim government would rule in Baghdad until after elections, which are slated for January. (Proposal highlights)
U.N. envoy Lakdhar Brahimi is in talks to select members of the interim government.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said the proposed resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, "represents a new beginning for Iraq."
President Bush was expected to outline the command structure of the proposed peacekeeping force in a televised speech Monday at 8 p.m. ET, aides said.(Full story)
The country's security would be bolstered by a multinational force "under unified command," led by an American general, diplomats said. That force would have a one-year mandate that could be renewed by the Security Council or at the request of Iraq's government.
"The multinational force will be there with the agreement of the sovereign government of Iraq," Cunningham said. It would include a "distinct entity" dedicated to providing security for U.N. personnel and would assist in training, equipping and monitoring Iraqi security forces.
The resolution also would give the interim government control over oil revenues, though proceeds will continue to be deposited in the Development Fund for Iraq. That fund will continue to be monitored by an independent watchdog agency, the International Advisory and Monitoring Board.
The United States says it expects to keep nearly 140,000 troops in Iraq through 2005 to ensure the country's security. Britain and other allies have about 20,000 troops stationed in Iraq now.
The resolution is vague about the relationship between the Iraqi government and the multinational force, referring to arrangements under way to create a "partnership" with the U.S.-led troops.
Some U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about the lack, so far, of any agreement with an Iraqi government that would permit the presence of international troops on its soil. But British Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry said the force would remain "at the request of and with the consent of a government."
"We hope to get that consent by having a discussion with the putative government as soon as it's available, and we would have that discussion, we envisage, before the adoption of the resolution," he said.
Militiamen leave Karbala
In the Shiite Muslim holy city of Karbala some militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have left town, and Iraqi police have resumed patrols in the city, a U.S. military spokesman said Monday.
"It would appear that normal life is returning to the city of Karbala, absent the militia that had been holding the city hostage for so many weeks," said coalition military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt.
Coalition forces have been battling a militia loyal to al-Sadr in the region for weeks. Al-Sadr is wanted for questioning in the killing of a rival cleric last year.
In Baghdad, a blast killed two British civilians and wounded two others Monday, destroying an armored sport utility vehicle near an entrance to the "Green Zone," headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition, officials said.
The British Foreign Office did not release the identities of the victims.
The blast was originally thought to have been a car bomb, but U.S. military on the scene said an improvised explosive device near the SUV caused the explosion.
Controversial video released
A video of a wedding party -- purported to be the one some Iraqis say a U.S. airstrike hit last week -- failed Monday to shake the coalition's resolve that they bombed a high-level gathering of foreign fighters in the early morning attack.
The video, obtained and distributed by Associated Press Television News, shows a bride arriving, people dancing and a man playing the piano. That man appears to be one of the victims of the Wednesday morning attack, seen at his burial after the attack.
"Day after day after day as we continue to get more evidence in ... it is pretty clear to us that what happened that night -- from after midnight to about 0400 -- that the activities that we saw on the ground were somewhat inconsistent with a wedding party," said Kimmitt.
More than 40 people were killed in the attack. Local Iraqis said those numbers included women and children, but Kimmitt said the coalition had found no evidence that any children were killed.
Kimmitt noted that the video was done entirely in daylight hours, while the airstrike was under cover of darkness. But the general said the coalition had "made no determination" and was conducting a full investigation. (Full story)
Other developments
The U.S. military denied a Sunday report in The Washington Post alleging the top U.S. general in Iraq witnessed the abuse of Iraqi inmates. Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez stands by his testimony before congressional committees that he was unaware of the abuses until he ordered an investigation into allegations in January, according to a statement. (Full story)
Ahmed Chalabi, the former Iraqi exile who worked closely with the White House before the Iraq war, blamed CIA Director George Tenet on Sunday for recent allegations that have apparently caused his standing with the Bush administration to plummet. (Full story)
CNN's Jane Arraf, Elise Labott, Liz Neisloss and Guy Raz contributed to this report.