Iraqis 'concerned by peace, not war'

By Rachel Clarke
BBC News Online in Washington

Iraqis are keen to move forward away from the Saddam Hussein regime as soon as possible, according to the results of a new survey of opinion across the nation.

Iraqis hoped 'liberation' would bring quick material gains, the report said

But the direction they want to take is still very uncertain, say researchers from the National Democratic Institute in Washington which canvassed the views from 30 June to 9 July.

Teams from the institute brought together groups of Iraqis last month to assess whether there was a general mood among various groups - men and women, Kurds and Arabs, Sunnis, Shias and Christians.

The newly released findings include:

• Iraqis are glad to be rid of Saddam Hussein and do not want a return to the past

• Iraqis have a strong desire for order and governance

• Iraqis feel excitement but also fear about the prospect of freedom and democracy

• Iraqis have mixed views on Islamic rule

• Iraqis are committed to the integrity of Iraq as a state

Tom Melia, who oversaw the survey, said the thrust of opinion was clear.

"While the debate in Washington and London is about the antecedents to war, in Iraq the people have moved on... they have new issues," he said.

Concerns echoed

The Arabic-language discussions were moderated by local people and Mr Melia said he believed the participants were unaware that they were being interviewed by an American organisation and as such may have been more confident in expressing their opinions.

The role of clerics in a future government is not yet defined

But many of the comments collected will nonetheless be pleasing to the Americans who are setting up Iraq's new administration.

Many of the concerns voiced by Western experts about the development of Iraq - such as the need to introduce a democracy that would not be subsumed by religious leaders - were also expressed by Iraqis, said the institute, which is affiliated to the US Democratic Party but also promotes democracy worldwide.

Its report, "Iraqis discuss their country's future - Post-war perspectives from the Iraqi street", quoted the views of various interviewees.

A woman from the minority Sunni Muslim faction favoured by Saddam Hussein said: "Religion has to be separate from politics so everyone can practise their own religion freely."

A Christian woman in Baghdad said: "Before, Iraqis used to love Iraqis, but feelings of enmity are growing between us. Religion should not be related to the government."

A Shia woman said: "We have witnessed how Saddam has destroyed us. But that doesn't mean that ruling under secular basis is bad. We think it is good. It is better than Islamic rule."

Even those who did back Islamic rule did not want a extremist style of theocracy, such as that introduced in neighbouring Iran, the report said.

Morality fears

But there was concern about what form democracy would take, and whether it would also bring the looser morals associated with democracies like the US and Britain.

Researchers said most Iraqis did not back attacks on coalition troops

"Democracy is good, but it may bring corruption and immoral behaviour. Religious democracy brings safety," said a Shia man in Baghdad's Sadr City.

A Kurdish man in Kirkuk agreed: "The problem with democracy is that no-one is there to control you, and you can do whatever you want. And we need somebody to be in control."

There was also fear of what could happen after so many years of repression.

A Shia man from Baghdad said: "There will be a revolution in Iraq. It is like a volcano, and it may blow like an atomic bomb, boiling and then an explosion."

Les Campbell, director of the National Democratic Institute's Middle East programme, said much of the complaining and anxiety was a natural reaction to the sudden ending of authoritarian rule which was not followed - as some expected - by an immediate improvement in quality of life.