Tracking Number: 252453
Title: "Meeting Shows Broad Base of Iraqi Opposition." Representatives of a broad spectrum of Iraqi opposition groups met last week to discuss their goals for an Iraq free of
Saddam Hussein's tyranny. In a meeting in the northern Iraqi town of Salahuddin, the Iraqi National Congress chose a three-member leadership council that covers a broad-based coalition of minorities. (921109)
Translated Title:
Reunion muestra amplia base oposicion en Irak. (921109)
Date: 19921109
Text:
MEETING SHOWS BROAD BASE OF IRAQI OPPOSITION
(VOA Editorial) (350) (Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America November 8, reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)
Representatives of a broad spectrum of Iraqi opposition groups met last week to discuss their goals for an Iraq free of Saddam Hussein's tyranny. In a meeting in the northern Iraqi town of Salahuddin, the Iraqi National Congress chose a three-member leadership council. The three leaders are Masoud Barzani of the Kurdish Democratic Party; Hassan Naqib, a Sunni Arab and former Iraqi major general; and Muhammed Bahr al Ulum, a Shia Arab of the Independent Islamic Party.
More than 200 opposition figures participated in the meeting, the second held by the Iraqi National Congress in recent weeks. In addition to choosing a leadership council, the delegates also selected about two dozen members for an executive committee. The members represent many ethnic and religious movements within the Iraqi opposition, including Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Shia, Arab tribes, Assyrians and Turkomans. The Iraqi opposition conference also agreed that the post-Saddam Iraq should be a federated system.
As one opposition spokesman said, "The main aim of the various opposition groups is to work to end the rule of the present government in Iraq. To do so," he said, the opposition has "to present an alternative government. Obviously, it's going to be diametrically opposed to the present system. It's got to be democratic. It's got to...work for a multi-party system. It's got to be liberal in its approach and thinking."
The United States encourages the creation of a central government in Baghdad that would reflect the diverse nature of Iraqi society, respect the human rights of all citizens, be committed to maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and remain at peace with Iraq's neighbors. A federated system for local government within the context of a united Iraq is fully compatible with the needs of the Iraqi people and their neighbors. The United States is pleased that last week's conference further consolidated a broad-based, unified opposition to the dictator Saddam Hussein.
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File Identification: 11/09/92, TXT103; 11/09/92, LSI118; 11/09/92, PFS152; 11/09/92, EFS153; 11/09/92, LDP114; 11/09/92, NEA115; 11/10/92, NAA208
Product Name: Wireless File; VOA Editorials
Product
Code: WF; VO
Languages: Spanish; Arabic
Keywords: IRAQ/Politics & Government; GOVERNMENT OVERTHROW; IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS; OPPOSITION GROUPS; CONFERENCES; ELOOM, MOHAMMED BAHR EL-; BARZANI,
MASSOUD; NAQUIB, HASSAN AL-
Document Type: EDI
Thematic Codes: 1NE
Target Areas: EA; EU; AR; NE
PDQ Text Link: 252453; 252604
USIA Notes:
*92110903.TXT
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