Press eyes Iraq's future

Press eyes Iraq's future

Retired US general Jay Garner is to run Iraq's interim administration

The Middle Eastern press is still divided over the forces shaping the region after Saddam Hussein's overthrow.

"The fall of Tikrit marked the end of the war," Oman's Al-Watan believes.

"Now we wait for [US] General Jay Garner to carry out his duties as the 'governor' of Iraq."

"The political process," the paper declares, "has just started."

Egypt's highest-circulation newspaper, Al-Ahram, takes a positive approach.

"It is important to note," the paper says, "that it is a long time since the Iraqi people were genuinely asked how they really want to govern themselves.

"The most significant thing, therefore is to focus on harmony and exchange views on this particular issue with utmost transparency and democracy."

Arab solidarity

For Saudi Arabia's Al-Jazeera: "The most important thing is that the sovereignty of Iraq comes before everything else."

Jordan's Al-Dustur warns that the Iraqi people will not stand for an imposed government.

Iraq's neighbours cannot fold their hands, sit back and watch the Iraqi people suffer

Egypt's Al-Jumhuriyah

"Since time immemorial the Iraqi people, and not only the opposition, have raised banners reading 'no to dictators'," it says.

"And here we are today, witnessing new demonstrations in which Iraqi crowds say: 'No to the US, UK occupation'."

While the Saudi Al-Watan sees the variety of political forces within Iraq as the main obstacle to its future development, Egypt's Al-Jumhuriyah urges greater pan-Arab involvement.

Noting that Iraq's neighbours are due to hold a regional summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the paper believes that "Iraq's neighbours cannot fold their hands, sit back and watch the Iraqi people suffer".

"The Arab way forward after the fall of the Iraqi regime," it says, "should have a clear vision to prevent situations repeating themselves.

"This summit should strengthen Arab immunity to prevent another Arab capital from falling."

Israel's role

Several papers are unhappy at the prospect of the United States exerting further influence over the future of the region.

The Saudi Al-Riyadh argues that what it sees as the presence of pro-Israeli voices within the Bush administration casts doubts on US intentions, as these elements are suspected of seeking war with Syria and Iran.

For the UAE's Al-Khalij, this is an unlikely prospect.

The current campaign indicates that Washington is representing Israel and defending Zionist policies in the Middle East

UAE's Al-Bayan

"Israel's long-term plan is to cause the disintegration of Arab nations," the paper warns.

"If the USA wants to be an acceptable and distinguished [Arab] friend, it should present to Arabs a plan that could guarantee their security from their main enemy."

"The Americans' objective in restructuring the Arab region's road map," the paper says, "is to become a neighbour of their ally, Ariel Sharon, in occupied Palestinian territory."

Another UAE paper, Al-Bayan, agrees: "The current campaign indicates that Washington is representing Israel and defending Zionist policies in the Middle East."

Qatar's Al-Watan also sees the US-Israeli alliance as the dominant factor shaping the Middle East in the wake of the invasion of Iraq.

"Expectations and hopes in the world and in the Arab region are now turned towards the next US move after Iraq's fall," the paper says.

"The US plan will be to create a 'new Middle East' under Washington's supervision, where Israel will be able to expand its political, economic and security domains."

'Iraq's turn'

Not every paper in the Arab world sees American intervention in an entirely negative light.

"Every Kuwaiti remembers very well the role of Bush senior in liberating Kuwait," Kuwait's Al-Watan says.

"And now Bush junior is liberating Iraq."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.