Iraq Notebook
Iraqi police may be sent into shrines

Adnan Pachachi

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Military patrols have been battling daily with fighters believed affiliated with Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militia seized key parts of the holy cities of Najaf and Kufa in April, occupying mosques and police stations.

Al-Sadr's militia controls the Kufa mosque and the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, two of Shiite Islam's holiest sites.

"We can't have American boots on the ground in those sites," said Lt. Col. Pat White, commander of the U.S. base near Kufa. "But when Iraqi security forces are ready, they could deny insurgents use of the facilities."

The commander of the 1st Armored Division, Maj. Gen. Martin Dempsey, said such an assault could happen in as few as two weeks if Iraqi security forces from elsewhere are deployed. Only 60 Iraqi police officers are working in Najaf.

Despite ongoing talks since May 27 to implement a proposed cease-fire, fighting has continued, with each side blaming the other. Four American soldiers were injured yesterday. More than 100 Iraqi fighters and two American soldiers have been killed in Kufa since Sunday, according to military reports.

Pachachi may try again for job of president

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Adnan Pachachi, passed over for the post of Iraq's interim president, said yesterday he may run for the office when his country's transition from U.S. occupation to democracy is complete.

Pachachi also said his candidacy for the interim presidency was defeated by a "conspiracy" by some members of the Governing Council "who did not like my ideas ... about democracy and secularism."

Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, a Sunni Muslim tribal leader, was named to the largely ceremonial post of president this week after gaining the support of most members of the council.

Pachachi, seen as the favorite candidate of the United States, turned down the post in the face of opposition on the council.
 
Pachachi, a foreign minister in the government toppled in 1968 by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's Baath party, said he thought he had been "the most qualified" to hold the presidency in the interim government, which takes power June 30.

He insisted that he was the candidate favored by most Iraqis, based on the consultations led by U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, but that a group of council members had subverted the process. Pachachi said earlier to CNN that he was opposed by Shiite members "and some of the Kurds."

Italian Embassy in Baghdad attacked with mortar shells

ROME — Several mortar shells were fired yesterday at the Italian Embassy in Baghdad, according to the Foreign Ministry in Rome. Italian officials said some Iraqis died, but an Iraqi police officer in Baghdad said only one Iraqi was killed.

No Italians were hurt in the attack, the ministry said.

The attack came hours before President Bush arrived in Italy for talks with Premier Silvio Berlusconi, one of Washington's staunchest allies in Europe.

Bush warns against pullout by Australian troops

WASHINGTON — President Bush warned yesterday that any withdrawal of Australian forces from Iraq would be "disastrous" and would likely embolden insurgents and undermine hopes for a democratic government in Baghdad.

During a White House news conference, Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard expressed their convictions about keeping the U.S.-led coalition in place despite the withdrawal of Spanish forces and growing popular opposition in allied countries.

Howard, seeking a fourth term in an election later this year, also faces growing public resistance to the war and a challenge from opposition Labor leader Mark Latham, who has promised to bring Australia's 850 troops home by Christmas if he wins power.

Iraq's new foreign minister weighs in on U.N. resolution

UNITED NATIONS — Iraq's foreign minister told the U.N. Security Council yesterday his new government wanted U.S.-led troops to stay, but said Baghdad needed some control over how long they would remain in the country.

However, Hoshiyar Zebari in general sided with the United States and Britain, thereby probably moving closer to adoption of a U.S.-British draft resolution on the planned June 30 handover.

He disagreed with France, Germany, China and others who want a fixed deadline for the force's withdrawal. He also opposed a veto over U.S.-led military operations.

The Iraqi minister came to New York to discuss the resolution, which aims for international endorsement of the new interim government and authorization of a U.S.-led multinational force empowered to take "all necessary measures" to keep the peace.