Posted on 04/08/2003 4:15:03 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
Bush, Blair Emphasize Areas Of Agreement On Post-War Iraq
London (CNSNews.com) - President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair presented a united front over the running of a post-war Iraq at a news conference Tuesday. Speaking in Belfast at the start of a second day of talks, the two leaders said they were committed to handing control of the country over to Iraqis. "This new government will not be run either by us (the coalition) or by the United Nations," Blair said. "This is a false choice." For his part, Bush said that the coalition was "committed to working with international institutions, including the United Nations." Bush said the U.N. had a "vital role" to play, not only in providing humanitarian aid but also in managing the political transition to an elected government. The leaders also touched on the Middle East peace process and repeated a pledge to publish the "road map" once a Palestinian cabinet is in place. "Being here in Northern Ireland makes me more firm in my belief that peace is possible," Bush said. Bush was also asked by a reporter whether air strikes against a residential neighborhood last night in Baghdad had killed Saddam Hussein. He replied: "I don't know whether he survived ... I know that he's losing power.""
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