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U.S. Wants U.N.'s Help in Making Transition to Iraqi Self-Rule Smoother

Aired February 09, 2004 - 15:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The road to Iraqi self-rule can be a very bumpy one. So the U.S. is turning to the U.N. and the international community to try to end the coalition occupation and to try to make the transition a little smoother.
CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): There's a lot at stake for everyone at this meeting. For the U.N., after its painful, recent history, whether this is the start of a new role in Iraq. For Iraq and the U.S., whether this fact-finding mission will find that power can be handed back to Iraqis through elections.

LAKHDAR FRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY (through translator): I think that the United Nations affirms its firm desire to do everything possible to help the Iraqi people and all its sectors and components to recover from the long ordeal they have suffered, and to restore their independence and sovereignty and rebuild Iraq.

ARRAF: The question is how best to restore sovereignty and end the occupation. This man, the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, who commands the support of millions of Shia Muslims, wants elections. Shias form over 60 percent of Iraq's population, but under Saddam were denied political power. Many Iraqis, whether or not they believe the country is ready for elections, are convinced the United Nations could balance the influence of the U.S. and Britain.

NASEER CHADERCHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Of course the Iraqi people want the U.N. to play a role. And to be honest, this role should restrain the Americans and the British and allow the Iraqi people to voice their opinions.

ARRAF: One of the big questions is whether Iraq is secure enough to hold a vote. The U.N. still reeling from a truck bomb that hit its headquarters last year, killing special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and more than 20 other people. And the new Iraqi police, meant to help stabilize the country, remain one of the biggest targets.

On Saturday, a bomb inside a police station south of Baghdad killed three police officers and wounded 11. A bomb Iraqi police say may have been planted by one of their own. Against that backdrop, security remains very tight for the U.N. mission, which is expected to travel across Iraq over the next 10 days.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Rule Smoother>


Aired February 9, 2004 - 15:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The road to Iraqi self-rule can be a very bumpy one. So the U.S. is turning to the U.N. and the international community to try to end the coalition occupation and to try to make the transition a little smoother.
CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): There's a lot at stake for everyone at this meeting. For the U.N., after its painful, recent history, whether this is the start of a new role in Iraq. For Iraq and the U.S., whether this fact-finding mission will find that power can be handed back to Iraqis through elections.

LAKHDAR FRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY (through translator): I think that the United Nations affirms its firm desire to do everything possible to help the Iraqi people and all its sectors and components to recover from the long ordeal they have suffered, and to restore their independence and sovereignty and rebuild Iraq.

ARRAF: The question is how best to restore sovereignty and end the occupation. This man, the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, who commands the support of millions of Shia Muslims, wants elections. Shias form over 60 percent of Iraq's population, but under Saddam were denied political power. Many Iraqis, whether or not they believe the country is ready for elections, are convinced the United Nations could balance the influence of the U.S. and Britain.

NASEER CHADERCHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Of course the Iraqi people want the U.N. to play a role. And to be honest, this role should restrain the Americans and the British and allow the Iraqi people to voice their opinions.

ARRAF: One of the big questions is whether Iraq is secure enough to hold a vote. The U.N. still reeling from a truck bomb that hit its headquarters last year, killing special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and more than 20 other people. And the new Iraqi police, meant to help stabilize the country, remain one of the biggest targets.

On Saturday, a bomb inside a police station south of Baghdad killed three police officers and wounded 11. A bomb Iraqi police say may have been planted by one of their own. Against that backdrop, security remains very tight for the U.N. mission, which is expected to travel across Iraq over the next 10 days.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Rule Smoother>