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`US sidelines Iraqi exiles`
Washington, June 08: In creating a post-war Iraqi administration, the US has completely sidelined former opposition leaders viewing them as `insufficiently` representative and too `disorganised`, a media report today said.
Washington, June 08: In creating a post-war Iraqi administration, the US has completely sidelined former opposition leaders viewing them as "insufficiently" representative and too "disorganised", a media report today said.
"The occupation authority views the exiles whom the US had brought back to Iraq as insufficiently representative and too disorganised to take charge," the report said adding the exiles were funded by Washington and Pentagon had imparted military training.
"In the six weeks after Baghdad fell to US forces," notes 'Washington Post', "leaders of seven political groups that had opposed former president Saddam Hussein acted with the swatter of a government in waiting."
Ahmed Chalabi, a former banker and leader of the Pentagon-backed Iraqi National Congress, returned from London and installed himself with the help of his own small militia in a private club in the capital's poshest neighbourhood.
The chieftains of other political parties also tried to woo people by touting their parties as key participants in a new government run by the exiles.
"But as a scorching June heat envelopes Baghdad plans to cede power to the former opposition leaders have evaporated."
Top US civil administrator, Paul Bremer, during a recent meeting with several leaders told the exiles they "don't represent the country," the Post said quoting some diplomats.
Bremer repeatedly asked them to broaden their coalition and to include women, Christians and tribal chiefs but they failed to do so, officials said.
Bureau Report
"In the six weeks after Baghdad fell to US forces," notes 'Washington Post', "leaders of seven political groups that had opposed former president Saddam Hussein acted with the swatter of a government in waiting."
Ahmed Chalabi, a former banker and leader of the Pentagon-backed Iraqi National Congress, returned from London and installed himself with the help of his own small militia in a private club in the capital's poshest neighbourhood.
The chieftains of other political parties also tried to woo people by touting their parties as key participants in a new government run by the exiles.
"But as a scorching June heat envelopes Baghdad plans to cede power to the former opposition leaders have evaporated."
Top US civil administrator, Paul Bremer, during a recent meeting with several leaders told the exiles they "don't represent the country," the Post said quoting some diplomats.
Bremer repeatedly asked them to broaden their coalition and to include women, Christians and tribal chiefs but they failed to do so, officials said.
Bureau Report