UNITED NATIONS — U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that the Iraqi Governing Council needs to draft a constitution within six months. The move, he said, would pave the way for elections and the Iraqis’ transition from a state of occupation to one of self-rule.
The timeline, which Iraqi officials indicated they could meet, was the first concrete item to be made public in the Bush administration’s calendar for postwar Iraq.
"Six months seems to be a good timeline to put out there for the creation of this constitution," Powell said, adding that it will "give a sense of momentum and purpose to the effort of moving toward full restoration of authority over Iraq to the Iraqi people."
That timetable, which Powell said should not be considered a deadline, comes after tense weeks during which European leaders — and this week members of Congress — have chided U.S. officials about their lack of a clear strategy for leaving Iraq.
The Governing Council’s foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, told Fox News Friday that Iraq could meet the six-month timeline.
One member of the council, Adnan Pachachi, told reporters Wednesday that the group would hammer out a constitution by May, with U.N. help, and shortly thereafter hold elections.
The creation of a constitution is part of a seven-point plan that the U.S. administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, has said is necessary for Iraq to regain sovereignty.
Powell’s announcement comes after President Bush told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly that the process of transferring power would not be rushed. It also comes as Bush’s plea for money and troops for Iraq gets a lukewarm reception.
The European Commission has offered $230 million for Iraq’s reconstruction —a small fraction of the $20 billion that Washington has pledged. A U.S. congressional source said other countries have promised $2 billion.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
