Interim Iraqi government longs for legitimacy

The incoming interim government of Iraq began applying direct pressure on a divided United Nations Security Council on Thursday to ensure that any resolution to endorse the political transition in the country offers a transfer of sovereignty that is meaningful in practice and not simply symbolic.

The case was being made by the Foreign Minister of the new government, Hoshyar Zebari, on a two-day visit to New York.

In Iraq, the Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, gave his nod to the new government, but emphasised the need for a clear expression of Iraq's new sovereignty from the Security Council.

Lamenting that the interim government was not elected and lacks "legitimacy", al-Sistani said "it is hoped that the government will prove its efficiency and integrity."

In a clear reference to Zebari's visit to New York, he urged the government to get "a clear Security Council resolution enabling the Iraqis to restore full sovereignty".

Several key members of the council have already been pushing behind the scenes for further rewriting of the latest draft of the resolution, unveiled by Britain and the United States earlier this week. France, Germany and Russia have all voiced concern that the text still does not sufficiently spell out how sovereign Iraq will be.

Debate is starting to focus on the relationship between the new government and the US-led multinational force, which would only leave Iraq after direct elections and the completion of a new constitution at the end of next year.

London and Washington insist that such issues - for example, when and if Iraq could refuse to participate in a military operation - should be dealt with in separate side letters, outside the resolution.

The military command issue was raised by Zebari with the ambassadors of the US and Britain . "This is a very important resolution for us," he said.

* Rebel Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has agreed to withdraw his fighters from the holy city of Najaf within two days, as long as US forces also withdraw.

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Herald Feature: Iraq