The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has denied that Syria and Iran are Washington's next targets. In an interview with the London-based Arabic newspaper, al-Hayat, Powell said the United States had no intention of invading these two countries.
"Nobody in the American administration talked about invading Iran or Syria," Powell said. "It seems that there is a constant desire by everybody to accuse us of invasion operations. That didn't, and won't, take place."
Powell added Iraq should be ruled by its own people. He said it will be up to the United Nations Security Council to decide on the role the world body plays in rebuilding Iraq following the war.
Initially, Iraq will have a military leadership to maintain security and stability and secure emergency supplies, until a civil authority is developed and transferred to Iraqi rule. Powell said Washington will provide assistance to some government ministries "to help rebuild them, not to administer them."
A key aim was to make sure any new Iraqi government is free of members of President Saddam Hussein's ruling Ba'ath Party, Powell conveyed.
Meanwhile, according to a new poll, published Saturday by the Los Angeles Times, 42 percent said the United States should take action if Syria, in fact, provides aid to Iraq, while 46 percent said no. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
