US plans to occupy Iraq for 18 months

THE US plans to occupy Iraq for 18 months after toppling Saddam Hussein in its most ambitious effort to administer a country since controlling affairs in Germany and Japan after the Second World War.

Pentagon chiefs hope a period of military control will prevent any interference from neighbouring Arab countries and give the military time to find and destroy any unused weapons of mass destruction.

The White House has rejected the idea of creating a provisional government before an invasion, according to an administration document summarising the plans which was obtained by the New York Times.