Iraqi leader blames radical Muslims for UN attack
( 2003-08-21 14:15) (Agencies)
A leading member of Iraq's U.S.-backed Governing Council said on Thursday fundamentalist Muslims moving into Iraq carried out the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and that more attacks are likely.
Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, ruled out supporters of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein for Tuesday's suicide truck bombing, which killed at least 20 people including chief U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
"These terrorist activities in Iraq are arranged by fundamentalist Muslim, or so-called Muslim, organizations...this is the same tactic they are using all over the world," Talabani told a news conference during a five-day visit to Australia.
Talabani said extremist Muslims from Saudi Arabia, members of al Qaeda and other militant groups were gathering in Iraq, coming across the country's southern and western borders.
"We are expecting more kinds of attacks in this way," said Talabani, who is in Australia to meet officials and thank them for their support.
He said there had been rumors of possible car bombings or suicide attacks against the U.N. or coalition forces since an explosion at the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad two weeks ago.
The latest attack highlighted the need for an Iraqi police force to be set up and trained quickly to take over security from the U.S.-led coalition forces, he said.
Talabani downplayed any further influence of Saddam's supporters in Iraq, saying they were now totally isolated from the people. He was also confident Saddam would be captured.
He said some documents outlining Saddam's movements were seized when former Iraqi vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan, Saddam's right-hand man, was arrested on Monday.
Talabani is one of 25 members of Iraq's Governing Council, an interim administrative body with a rotating presidency set up in mid-July. Its members, appointed by the United States, were drawn from Iraq's political, ethnic and religious groups.
It has some limited powers but all its actions can be vetoed by U.S. civilian administrator Paul Bremer.
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