Posted on 04/14/2003 7:58:59 AM PDT by kattracks
Blair sees Iraqi elections in little over a year
LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday he hoped elections could be held in Iraq within a year of an interim authority being established.
Reporting to parliament, Blair said once the military campaign was over, the United States and Britain would initially be responsible for Iraq's security and humanitarian needs.
But he said "a few weeks after the end of the conflict," he wanted to see a broad-based Iraqi interim authority established.
"Once established, the interim authority will progressively assume more of the functions of government," Blair said.
"The third phase will bring into being a fully representative Iraqi government, once a new constitution has been approved, as a result of elections which I hope could occur around a year after the start of the interim authority," he said.
04/14/03 10:54 ET
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