Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/07/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / BLAIR (S-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-301888

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=BELFAST

CONTENT=

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INTRO: President Bush is in Northern Ireland where he is meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss how to run Iraq, once the fighting is finished. V-O-A's Scott Stearns reports, they are expected to announce plans for an interim authority in Baghdad.

TEXT: Prime Minister Blair wants an active role for the United Nations in leading a post-war Iraq. The Bush administration says the U-N will play a part, but chiefly a humanitarian one, as there is still considerable mistrust among some in the president's war council over the U-N refusal to back this invasion.

U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell says Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair are not as far apart on the U-N role as some published reports suggest. With what he describes as "hostilities coming to a close," Secretary Powell says U-S officials will go to Iraq this week to begin laying the groundwork for an interim authority that he says will represent "all elements of Iraqi society."

Speaking to reporters on the way to Northern Ireland, Secretary Powell said the U-S- and British-led coalition "must have a leading role" in Iraq because it has taken what he called "the political risk" and "paid the cost in lives."

Several hundred anti-war protesters in Belfast denounced the conflict. Neither the president nor the prime minister will see those demonstrators as they are meeting at Hilsboro Castle outside the city. (SIGNED)

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