Iraqi opposition condemns US plan

Kurdish groups control part of northern Iraq

Iraqi opposition leaders have voiced serious concern about reported US plans to rule the country by military decree after the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein.

Correspondents say the groups feel betrayed by the proposals, which they say would give them no input in the running of a new regime, despite a decade of consultations with Washington.

The groups are due to meet this weekend in Kurdish-run northern Iraq.

They are also deeply unhappy at a reported American idea to allow thousands of troops from Turkey - a long-standing foe of the Kurds - to cross the border into northern Iraq in the event of war.

Washington's ideas for filling a post-Saddam political vacuum were outlined by US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at a meeting with opposition groups in Ankara last week, the groups say.

PLANNED NEW REGIME

US military governor would rule for up to a year

Appointed "consultative council" would advise the governor

Judiciary committee would prepare constitution and elections for an assembly

Assembly would debate and adopt the constitution

The scheme would see US military rule in Iraq for a year, with Americans appointed to run government ministries.

Iraqis would be appointed to a consultative council to advise the new administration.

Opposition groups argue that apart from going back on repeated pledges to bring democracy to Iraq, the system would not work well.

Saddam's people

They warn that among other effects such a plan would keep in power an Iraqi administration dominated by people associated with Saddam Hussein.

"I think it's a bad policy," Kanan Makiya, an official with main opposition group the Iraqi National Congress told the Washington Post newspaper.

The best thing the neighbours can do is to stay out

Barham Salah, leader of part of the breakaway Kurdish region

"I think it's going to have the opposite effect that they (the US) want it to have."

The plan for a Turkish military role in the region causes equal disquiet - despite their expected mission simply to secure the border area and provide camps for refugees fleeing hostilities.

Iraqi opposition leaders also warn that the plan risks drawing more nations into the conflict.

"The best thing the neighbours can do is to stay out, as any country entering Iraq could draw in other neighbouring countries and complicate the transition to democracy," Barham Salah, prime minister of one half of the breakaway Kurdish region told the Reuters news agency.

Iraqi opposition groups are wary of Turkey

The issue of Turkish involvement has already provided Nato with perhaps its most serious ever internal crisis.

Nato crisis

On Monday, France, Germany and Belgium blocked plans to begin shipping defensive equipment to Turkey, the only Nato member state that borders Iraq.

The opposition groups' vocal criticisms throw a sharp spotlight onto the opposition meeting, which is scheduled to be attended by an American delegation.

According to the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq, the meeting could turn into a display of opposition to the Americans almost as much as to Saddam Hussein.