ISTANBUL - U.S. President George Bush welcomed on Monday the early transfer of sovereignty to Iraqi people.
A high-level U.S. official told reporters that violence would not end as sovereignty was transferred to the new Iraqi government. Meanwhile the same U.S. official said that power handover in Iraq two days ahead of the schedule ''spoilt plans of terrorists who wanted to cause disorder during the transfer of sovereignty.''
The U.S. official stated that the power handover in Iraq strengthened new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad al-Alawi's hand.
The same official denied the allegations that Bush wanted to invite al-Alawi to NATO Istanbul summit, but Iraq was represented by defense and foreign ministers since some NATO members objected to Bush's proposal.
Noting that the United States expected that violence would continue in Iraq after the power transfer, the same U.S. official stressed that al-Alawi showed determination to counter terrorism.
Al-Alawi is expected to take some measures against possible protestors and terrorist attacks, including imposing a curfew.
Americans said that sovereignty was transferred to Iraqi people two days ahead of the schedule since Iraq was ready for this transfer and since an atmosphere of security had been ensured in Iraq.
The Iraqi government is expected to cooperate with the multi-national force to ensure security.
Sources say that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, currently under arrest, will be handed over to the new Iraqi government, but the date and venue of the hand over are not immediately clear.
The high-level U.S. official said that U.S. top administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer's mission had formally ended, adding that the United States was expected to send a new ambassador to Iraq as soon as possible.
(BRC-ULG) 28.06.2004