U.S. Iraqis hopeful June transfer of power will help stabilize Iraq

Published: 2004-06-21

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- Transferring power to an interim government June 30 will eventually bring stability to Iraq and curb the escalating violence by terrorists determined to derail the transition, according to Catholic and other Iraqis. "Iraqis are taking their destiny into their hands and will collaborate better with the interim government -- which represents the country's largest ethnic groups -- than with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council," Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim said in an interview. The bishop is head of the Michigan-based Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle for Chaldean Catholics in the eastern United States. U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has appointed Ghazi al-Yawar as interim president, Iyad Allawi as prime minister and a 35-member council of ministers to govern Iraq. In July this group will name some 1,000 Iraqis to select a 100-member national council to advise the ministers and prepare for national elections scheduled for January 2005. Elected officials will create a transitional government to draft a constitution and hold elections for a permanent government by the end of 2005, according to a U.N. plan backed by the United States.

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