Powell warns Iraq 'infiltrators'

The US is not ready to transfer power to the Iraqis

Coalition troops in Iraq will firmly deal with "terrorist" infiltrators challenging the country's security, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has promised.

Mr Powell made the remarks during a landmark visit to Baghdad. He is the highest-ranking American official to visit the country since the war ended.

"The major new threats are the terrorists who are trying to infiltrate into the country for the purpose of disrupting this very hopeful process and we will not allow that to happen," Mr Powell said after meeting interim Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

The US secretary of state arrived in Baghdad after inconclusive talks in Geneva with the permanent members of the UN Security Council on Iraq's future.

Challenging

Mr Powell was met at the airport by Paul Bremer, the head of the coalition provisional authority and then ferried low over the streets of Baghdad by helicopter.

He said security remained challenging, but was confident that it would be dealt with "in due course".

"We look forward for the next steps that will come, the writing of a constitution, and from that constitution, the people will be given a chance to express their will," he told reporters.

"This will lead to a democratic Iraq that we will be very pleased to pass on responsibilities to in due course."

The major new threats are the terrorists who are trying to infiltrate into the country Colin Powell, US Secretary of State

His Iraqi counterpart said it could happen next year, depending on the security environment.

"We hope by mid-2004 or before the end of the year, we will be able to have a sovereign, Iraqi, elected, legitimate government in place," Mr Zebari said.

In talks in Geneva on Saturday, Mr Powell and his colleagues from the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council were unable to agree on practical steps to transfer political power to the people of Iraq.

France has suggested the establishment of a new Iraqi Government in a month, a draft constitution by the end of the year and elections by next spring.

But Mr Powell has dismissed this as "totally unrealistic".