Ghazi Yawer Speaks. . .

The Truth can be harsh and ugly. . .

--ryan

Iraqi Leader Attacks US 'Errors'


Iraqi leader attacks US 'errors'
Iraq's interim president says the United States and Britain made a huge mistake by dismantling the Iraqi army after toppling Saddam Hussein.

Ghazi Yawer told the BBC this had created a security vacuum that is partly to blame for the violence.

"We could have screened people out instead of screening them in and this could have saved us a lot of hassle and problems," he said.

But he insisted next month's elections will take place as scheduled.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he expects the violence to increase in the weeks leading up to the 30 January poll.

But he insisted the interim government views it as a challenge it intends to meet.

Mr Yawer said he believes the election will be representative with voters from Sunni areas - traditional supporters of the former regime of Saddam Hussein - taking part.

The main concern is ensuring people can vote safely. "This is what we are trying to work on right now," he said.

'No regret'

The interim president blamed some of the present difficulties on the US decision to break up Saddam Hussein's entire security apparatus as soon as they had toppled the dictator last year.

By a scratch of the pen, he said, many men with a clean record were forced out of the security forces along with the villains.

"We have to reinstate some of the clean-record army officers and police officers," he said.

Mr Yawer says the security situation will only be solved once Iraq has "100% efficient Iraqi forces".

"As soon as we have efficient security forces that we can depend on we can see the beginning of the withdrawal of forces from our friends and partners and I think it doesn't take years, it takes months," he adds.

The president did acknowledge that Iraqis on their own could never have toppled Saddam.

"Toppling Saddam's regime is the biggest plus that we will never regret happening. He left no choice for Iraqis because he established a dynasty of villains," he said.

But he also accuses two of the country's neighbours, Iran and Syria, of condoning or actively supporting insurgents crossing their borders into Iraq.

He says their actions are posing another threat to the elections scheduled for 30 January.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/4090963.stm

Published: 2004/12/13 10:40:28 GMT

© BBC MMIV