INC man declares he's 'Mayor of Baghdad'
A leading figure in Iraq's opposition, Jaudat Obeidi, says he has been selected as Mayor of Baghdad.
Mr Obeidi, a general in Ahmad Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, says his first task will be to form committees to run the capital.
Mr Obeidi has spent years in exile living in the US state of Oregon. He says his first priority as Baghdad Mayor will be to re-establish security in the city.
He says he will share leadership of the capital with another leading figure in the Iraqi National Congress, Mohammad Zubeidi.
Mr Obeidi says Mr Zubeidi has been appointed governor of a provisional administration in Baghdad after more than 30 years in exile.
Chalabi returns
Mr Chalabi, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, has returned to Baghdad on his first visit to the city since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958.
Zaab Sethna, who travelled with Mr Chalabi in a motorcade from Nasiriyah to the capital, said: "Our plans are to establish ourselves here, to set up an office and begin the work towards reconstructing democracy and civil society in Iraq."
"His first plan is to go see his old home and then start building democracy in Iraq," he said.
Mr Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress, is the first major exiled politician to reach Baghdad since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's government.
Mr Sethna says Mr Chalabi will start meeting Iraqis soon, including community leaders, religious leaders and businessmen.
He says Mr Chalabi will coordinate his activities with Jay Garner, the retired US general leading the drive to rebuild Iraq, and the US authorities.
Asked how long Mr Chalabi would stay in Iraq, Mr Sethna said: "What he has said is 'I have come home to stay'."
A leading figure in Iraq's opposition, Jaudat Obeidi, says he has been selected as Mayor of Baghdad.
Mr Obeidi, a general in Ahmad Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, says his first task will be to form committees to run the capital.
Mr Obeidi has spent years in exile living in the US state of Oregon. He says his first priority as Baghdad Mayor will be to re-establish security in the city.
He says he will share leadership of the capital with another leading figure in the Iraqi National Congress, Mohammad Zubeidi.
Mr Obeidi says Mr Zubeidi has been appointed governor of a provisional administration in Baghdad after more than 30 years in exile.
Chalabi returns
Mr Chalabi, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, has returned to Baghdad on his first visit to the city since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958.
Zaab Sethna, who travelled with Mr Chalabi in a motorcade from Nasiriyah to the capital, said: "Our plans are to establish ourselves here, to set up an office and begin the work towards reconstructing democracy and civil society in Iraq."
"His first plan is to go see his old home and then start building democracy in Iraq," he said.
Mr Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress, is the first major exiled politician to reach Baghdad since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's government.
Mr Sethna says Mr Chalabi will start meeting Iraqis soon, including community leaders, religious leaders and businessmen.
He says Mr Chalabi will coordinate his activities with Jay Garner, the retired US general leading the drive to rebuild Iraq, and the US authorities.
Asked how long Mr Chalabi would stay in Iraq, Mr Sethna said: "What he has said is 'I have come home to stay'."
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