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Iraqi opposition to meet in southern Iraq
London, Apr 12: Iraqi opposition groups will meet in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah today, a representative has told a London press conference.
London, Apr 12: Iraqi opposition groups will meet in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah today, a representative has told a London press conference.
The opposition, which held the press conference, appeared at odds with each other over the role the UN and the Anglo-American coalition should play in post-war Iraq, but gave a firm message that they would not accept a new dictatorship in the country, and would not be subservient to the United States.
"We are not a colony," said one. "There will be a meeting in Nasiriyah today for all opposition parties and we hope all opposition groups will be represented," said meeting organiser Ghassan Atiyyah.
Atiyyah did not say which opposition parties or how many representatives would be attending the gathering. Members of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), the Iraqi National Accord (INA), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Islamic al-Dawa Party were present at the press conference in London.
The US-backed INC has sent 700 fighters to southern Iraq to join coalition forces in the campaign to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the INC had said on Sunday.
Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the INC, a coalition of opposition groups, is gearing up for a major role in post-war and is already in Nasiriyah. The Iraqi opposition gave a firm message that they would not accept a new dictatorship in their country.
"We reject any form of dictatorship. Iraq didn't need any form of expertise in the past and has been able to run the all sectors of the economy," said Salah Shaikhly of the INA.
Bureau Report
"We are not a colony," said one. "There will be a meeting in Nasiriyah today for all opposition parties and we hope all opposition groups will be represented," said meeting organiser Ghassan Atiyyah.
Atiyyah did not say which opposition parties or how many representatives would be attending the gathering. Members of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), the Iraqi National Accord (INA), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Islamic al-Dawa Party were present at the press conference in London.
The US-backed INC has sent 700 fighters to southern Iraq to join coalition forces in the campaign to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the INC had said on Sunday.
Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the INC, a coalition of opposition groups, is gearing up for a major role in post-war and is already in Nasiriyah. The Iraqi opposition gave a firm message that they would not accept a new dictatorship in their country.
"We reject any form of dictatorship. Iraq didn't need any form of expertise in the past and has been able to run the all sectors of the economy," said Salah Shaikhly of the INA.
Bureau Report