Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-11-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S-Iraq Meeting (S-Only)

NUMBER=302116

BYLINE=David Gollust

DATELINE=State Department

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States will convene a meeting of Iraqis in the southern city of Nasariyah Tuesday to discuss creation of an interim Iraqi governing authority. U-S officials hope the interim authority can take shape within a matter of weeks. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: The Nasiriyah meeting will bring together Iraqis from newly-liberated areas, and opposition figures and emigres who have been working with the United States for months now on how to organize a government after the fall of Saddam Hussein. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says U-S envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will chair the conference, which will begin the process of setting up an interim Iraqi administration:

///Boucher actuality///

We expect this to be the first in a series of regional meetings that will provide a forum for Iraqis to discuss their vision of the future and their ideas regarding the Iraqi interim authority. We hope these meetings will culminate in a nationwide conference that can be held in Baghdad, in order to form the Iraqi interim authority.

///end act///

Plans call for the initial post-war civil administration to be run by a team lead by retired U-S Army general Jay Garner. That will be phased out and replaced by the interim Iraqi authority, which in turn will give way eventually to an elected Iraqi government. (Signed)

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