Suicide bomber injures two US troops in Iraq; France, Germany oppose US proposal on reconstruction

Published September 4th, 2003 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

An Iraqi citizen was killed and two American troops injured in a suicide bombing attack in central Iraq, a US military spokesman said on Thursday. 

 

He added the incident took place on Wednesday in Al-Ramadi some 100 kilometers west of the Iraqi capital. Eyewitnesses told Reuters the attack took place close to the gates of the main U.S. military base in the town. 

 

Meanwhile, the leaders of Germany and France attacked a U.S. draft resolution seeking international forces and money for Iraq, suggesting it falls short by not granting responsibility to Iraqis or a large enough role to the United Nations.  

 

The two nations also led opposition to the Iraq war. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States welcomes "constructive input," but he insisted Washington's plan addresses France and Germany's concerns.  

 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac insisted Washington had to go further. "We are naturally ready to study it in the most positive manner," Chirac said, according to the AP. "But we are quite far removed from what we believe is the priority objective, which is the transfer of political responsibility to an Iraqi government as quickly as possible," Chirac told reporters.  

 

Schroeder said the draft resolution had brought "movement" into the diplomacy. But he added: "I agree with the president when he says: Not dynamic enough, not sufficient."  

 

"Now is the time the to look forward, and that can only happen if the United Nations can take responsibility for the political process," Schroeder said. (Albawaba.com) 

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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