New US administrator flies into Iraq

Monday, 12 May 2003 12:00 AM

The new US civilian administrator for Iraq arrived in the country today declaring he is 'delighted to be here.'

Paul Bremer arrived in Basra to take over his post, and continue the reconstruction of Iraq. He is a former American diplomat with a background in countering terrorism.

He flew into the southern city with General Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retired General Jay Garner, who Mr Bremner is replacing as Iraq administrator, also accompanied him.

After a brief visit to Basra, Mr Bremer moved on to Baghdad. Speaking to the press after landing in the Iraqi capital, Mr Bremer said: 'It is a wonderful challenge to help the Iraqi people basically reclaim their country from a despotic regime.

'I also want to say how proud I am of the work my good friend Jay Garner and the people who are working for him, how proud I am of everything they have done here in the last couple of weeks under extraordinary circumstances.'

He stressed that he and Mr Garner would be working closely together over the next few weeks to ensure the handover runs smoothly.

Mr Garner vehemently denied reports that he might be leaving Iraq early. The change of administrator is subject of much speculation. Rumours claim Mr Garner is being removed because of the slow restoration of Iraqi infrastructure, calls for an entirely civilian American representative, and the lack of any sort of an interim government.

Asked about when the changeover from American administration to an Iraqi government would take place, Mr Bremer simply said: 'We will be in the process of discussing with appropriate people in Iraq a transition to an Iraqi government at a time line that still has to be determined.'

But, he stressed: 'We are not here as a colonial power. We are here to turn over to the Iraqi people...as quickly as possible.'

He revealed today that former US ambassador Barbara Bodine, who was co-ordinator for central Iraq - including Baghdad - within the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, was being reassigned back to Washington by the State Department 'for their own reasons'.

Speculation around Ms Bodine's removal suggests that she may have been sidelined because of delays in the restoration of essential services to the region. Areas of Baghdad are still without clean water, wages are reportedly not being paid and rubbish continues to pile up in the streets.

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