Iraqi opposition figures begin talks on country's future
Hundreds of Iraqi opposition figures today began talks on the future of Iraq after the end of the Saddam Hussein regime.
The delegates from more than 50 political, religious and ethnic groups converged on a London hotel for the conference, titled For Democracy and the Salvation of Iraq.
They hope to discuss the immediate aftermath of a possible overthrow of Saddam, including how an interim government could be set up, how democratic elections could be arranged and the constitution of a permanent government.
Talks began today with a reading from the Koran before delegates were read a summary of a report written by the Preparatory Committee of the Iraqi opposition, setting out some of the aims of the conference.
Officials hope they can draw up a declaration stating what they believe should happen in the days and weeks after the fall of the current regime.
A US-led campaign against Saddam seemed to be presupposed, and all the talks began with the fall of the Iraqi dictator as their starting point.
Officials from the main opposition group, the Iraqi National Congress, have said they hope to base their discussions on a report by a US-backed working group of 32 Iraqi intellectuals.
It recommends setting up a “transitional authority” before any strike on Iraq, which would then double in size inside Iraq if Saddam was ousted.
It would be responsible for preparing for democratic elections so that a new government and constitution could be prepared, and for protecting the rights of the diverse political, social and ethnic minorities within Iraq’s 22 million population.
The conference aims to set up a “co-ordinating committee” to continue talks after the weekend, but officials refused to be drawn on whether it would form the nucleus of a transitional authority or a later government.
The conference has attracted about 350 delegates, mostly Iraqis living in exile in Europe or the US, and considerable international attention.
President Bush has sent one of his envoys, Zalmay Khalilzad to the talks and there are representatives of all the main Iraqi opposition groups.
But there were also fears that the various opposition factions, infamous for their rivalries and infighting, would fail to find any consensus.
Speakers due to address the conference today included Sharif Ali Bin Al-Hussain, of the Constitutional Monarchy Movement, Ahmed Chalabi, head of the INC and Ayad Alawi, the leader of the Iraqi National Accord.
