Iraqi govt process will be back next week, says Garner

The “governmental process” in Iraq will be up and running by the end of next week and all ministries will have Iraqi officials at the helm as soon as possible, the retired American general in charge of rebuilding the country said today.

Jay Garner spoke in Baghdad after meeting scores of Iraqi technocrats and academics on efforts to bring democracy and stability to this leaderless country.

“You will begin to see the governmental process begin by the end of next week,” he said. “It is very important that people start back to work, especially those in public service.”

Garner said he had a co-ordinator for every ministry, and will ensure that all ministries have a proper place to work. That includes finding new buildings, furniture and office supplies for those agencies whose offices were damaged by US bombing.

Among the topics at the meeting was how people in Baghdad would prefer to choose new municipal leadership to fill the vacuum created by the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

“Our purpose here in your country is to create an environment for you so that we can begin a process of government that leads to a democratic form in Iraq,” Garner told the 60-or-so Iraqis attending.

He said recent demonstrations protesting at the US presence have been influenced by neighbouring Iran.

“Those are well organised. I think what you find in that is a lot of Iranian influence,” Garner said, adding that he expected such protests to lessen in the coming days and that “you will see more favouritism toward the US.”

The Shiites, who make up about 60% of Iraq’s population of 24 million, are fast filling the power vacuum left by the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Some fear their dominance of post-war Iraqi politics could lead to an Islamic theocracy like the one next door in Shiite-dominated Iran.

Many of Baghdad’s residents are suspicious of Americans’ intentions in Iraq but hope they can bring order to the capital, which was engulfed by looting and arson after the regime’s fall. Much of the city still lacks power, water and telephone service.

“If the Americans are not going to control Baghdad very quickly, we will have a serious problem,” said Macon Kadhim, a 60-year-old electrical engineer, said before going into the meeting. “The first thing I would like to hear is that something will be done in Baghdad to restore security.”

One of Garner’s aides said oil is now flowing in southern Iraq, 175,000 barrels a day to a refinery in Basra and to the city’s power plants. In the next day or two, 60,000 barrels a day will begin flowing in the north, as well as natural gas, which drives electric turbines for Baghdad.

Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi, a recently returned Iraqi exile, has proclaimed himself the new mayor of Baghdad – a claim not recognised by Garner and his Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, according to Garner’s deputy, British Major General Tim Cross.

Al-Zubaidi “is running Baghdad as much as Saddam Hussein is,” said Lieutenant Colonel Alan King, commander of an Army civil affairs battalion.