Wolfowitz to report on progress in Iraq

Friday, 18 July 2003 12:00 AM

US deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz is visiting Baghdad today as part of his five-day tour of Iraq.

Mr. Wolfowitz is to assess the problems still facing the post-war reconstruction of Iraq: "I'm here to understand what is needed to complete the transition to a government and society of, by, and for the Iraqi people," he told reporters.

His visit comes after Tony Blair told the US congress yesterday that whether or not the coalition's case for war was accurate he felt that given the outcome it was something that "history will forgive".

Mr. Wolfowitz's priorities are expected to be security, the economy and Iraq's transitional political structure.

He will be holding talks with Paul Bremer, the senior American civilian administrator for Iraq, as well as military commanders who are overseeing the 150,000 US troops still based in Iraq.

Although there has been some progress, with the 25-strong Iraqi governing body expected to draw up a new constitution from September, there have been continued uprisings against the coalition troops.

The latest incident involved a bomb attack in Falluja, which killed one US soldier. And explosive devices are thought to have been found near Baghdad airport.

A Pentagon advisory team has also warned that US-led coalition is running out of time to impose law and order on Iraq.

Its report claims that urgent action is needed in the next three months to provide security and economic stability for the Iraqis.

Mr. Wolfowitz did say, however, that he expected democratic elections to take place in Iraq by next year.

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