The Iraqi National Congress’s spokesman denied Monday any ties between his party and Mohammad Mohsen al Zubaidi, who recently appointed himself as Baghdad’s Mayor. The spokesperson also went on to explain that Saddam’s son-in-law, Jamal Mustafa Sultan, who he alleges recently, surrendered himself to the INC, has provided important information during his questioning, and asserted that the search for Saddam’s whereabouts is still ongoing. The INC spokesman, Nabil al Musawi, also clarified to Al Bawaba in a telephone interview from Basra, that Zubaidi has never said that he was ever part of the INC nor did the party ever say that he was one of their members.
Musawi asserted that the INC has criticized Zubaidi’s self-appointment as Mayor of Baghdad, saying that such matters “should be implemented in an organized and proper manner…. Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and therefore we cannot deal with people who unilaterally appoint themselves to top political posts.”
Zubaidi appointed himself as Mayor of Baghdad as an outcome of what he referred to as an ‘election process’ where tribal chiefs, clerics, notable figures and intellectuals from Baghdad participated.
On the eve of the arrival of the retired US army general Jay Garner in Baghdad [to assume his position as head of civil administration in Iraq], U.S. Republican congressman Richard Lugar announced that an Iraqi government in Iraq would take at least five years to establish.
When asked about the congressman’s comment, Musawi said he “understood Lugar’s comment’s in a different way, indicating that the senator did not talk about the establishment of an Iraqi government, but rather the establishment of effective democratic political institutions.” In the same context, the National Congress’s spokesman emphasized the urgent need for “an interim democratic government”, which he expects to be established within days or perhaps weeks at the most. He expects a “permanent government” to be established within a maximum of two years.
Musawi also explained that his party – upon his surrender to them - handed Saddam’s son-in-law to US forces, who has provided them with important information when questioned by Amercian forces. Although the spokesman declined to give further details, he did confirm that Jamal Mustafa Sultan [Saddam’s son-in-law] fled to Syria, however was later persuaded to return by the Iraqi National Congress and surrender himself along with Khaled Abdullah, a top Iraqi intelligence official.
Sultan’s name is number 40 on the US list of most wanted Iraqi officials, and has been the sixth official to be captured by the Americans so far.
Musawi added that Sultan did not put any conditions for his surrender except for one demand, which was for his own safety. “There have been no conditions, he only requested his personal safety which we were able to guarantee for him...we explained to him that only the law could decide his fate, and that nothing more would be offered to him or to others,” said Musawi. When asked about Syrian involvement, he denied any role played by their government [in his surrender], which has recently witnessed an escalation in American rhetoric against the Syrian regime.
While many of the most wanted Iraqi former officials are still in hiding, Musawi reiterated that communications have been made with many of them in an attempt to persuade them to surrender themselves as well. “We are optimistic that they will surrender, otherwise we will arrest them and bring them before the Iraqi legal system,” he said.
As far as the ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his two sons were concerned, Musawi confirmed that they are ‘alive-and-mobile’ in Iraq. “We are sure he [Saddam Hussein] was not killed and we should treat the matter as such…continuous efforts are being made now to capture him and the rest of his family” he concluded. (Albawaba.com)
