The Hindu : International : Iraqi regime must be all-inclusive: Bush

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

International

International

Iraqi regime must be all-inclusive: Bush

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 1. The U.S. President, George W Bush, has told the leaders of Iraq that the transitional government must include the Sunni minority which was in power during the Saddam Hussein era. He called up the Prime Minister and President of Iraq to congratulate on the Sunday election which the White House maintains is a "defeat for the terrorists and their ideology."

A White House spokesman said Mr. Bush had urged the leaders to reach out to all factions to bolster the emerging democracy. "The President and both leaders agreed on the need to make sure that the political process is inclusive of all Iraqis whether or not they voted yesterday," said Scott McClellan said.

Mr. Bush called up his top war ally, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his two major critics — the French President Jacques Chirac and the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The White House says the French and the German leaders acknowledged that the election was a victory for the Iraqi people "and agreed that democracy in the region has taken a significant step forward."

The White House continues to reject calls for a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq because "terrorists" might organise further attacks around the time-frame.

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