IRAQ/KUWAIT: Iraq and its six neighbours concluded talks in Kuwait yesterday with a call for a central role for the United Nations in Iraq, including supervision of elections and of the transfer of power to Iraqis.
In a final statement after a two-day meeting, they also said it was vital to eliminate "all terrorist and other armed groups from Iraqi territory that constitute a danger for the neighbouring states".
Scores of men firing mortars and grenades stormed Iraqi security posts in Falluja on Saturday, killing 27 people including 22 police in the latest strike on forces vital to the transfer of power in Iraq.
Iraq had demanded at the Kuwait talks that its neighbours take "decisive measures" to impose tight security to stop cross-border infiltrations by foreign guerrillas fighting US-led forces. But the ministers' final statement referred only to the need to support "the effort made by Iraq towards achieving security and stability".
The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mr Hoshiyar Zebari, told a news conference: "There are incidents of infiltration (into Iraq) from the outside. I do not want to accuse anyone, but most of the suicide and terrorist operations are not carried out by Iraqis."
He said however such attacks would not undermine Iraqis' ability to take over government from US authorities as scheduled on June 30th.
Iraq and its neighbours, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait, affirmed "the importance of enhancing the role of the UN so that it can assume its central responsibilities throughout the transitional process in Iraq".
The statement said those responsibilities include "preparing the ground for the withdrawal of occupying powers as soon as possible, and providing advice and technical expertise for formulating the constitution, holding elections, and expediting the transfer of power".
The United States plans to hand over power to an interim Iraqi administration, chosen by a system of caucuses, by June 30th. Iraq's Shia leaders, fearful of losing influence, are demanding popular elections before any handover.
Iraqi authorities will ask the US to hand over Saddam Hussein and remove his status as a prisoner of war when they assume power on June 30th, Mr Zebari said.
The United States last month declared the former Iraqi president a POW, meaning he has certain specific rights under the Geneva Convention on treatment of prisoners.
That provoked protests in Baghdad by Iraqis opposed to the move, who also demanded Saddam face the death penalty.
"From a legal viewpoint, his status as a prisoner of war does not bar putting him on trial," Mr Zebari added.