Powell man tipped for Iraq job

The Pentagon's prominent role in Iraq has caused unease

A former US state department official is reported to have been appointed civilian administrator of Iraq.

According to Newsweek magazine, Paul Bremer would have authority over Jay Garner, the retired general currently in charge of reconstruction efforts, who in turn currently reports to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

The new appointment is said to have been designed to resolve bitter infighting between the Pentagon and the US state department over the future of Iraq.

It could also be seen as a victory for Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Divisions

Described as a hard-headed conservative who commands the respect of all sides in Washington, Mr Bremer is the former head of counter-terrorism at the state department.

The appointment would strengthen Mr Powell's hand

A formal announcement of his appointment is expected shortly.

BBC correspondent Roger Hardy says that Mr Powell is known to have been unhappy for some time over the Pentagon's dominant role in post-war Iraq.

He argues that the task of winning peace should be supervised by civilians and that many of America's allies feel the same way.

At present, General Garner - currently overseeing reconstruction efforts in Iraq - reports to the Pentagon, but it is not clear yet whether that will change.

Forced together

The state department - which has radically different ideas for who should rule Iraq to the Pentagon - felt that as a military man he was the wrong person for the delicate task of selecting Iraq's future transitional rulers.

But although Mr Bremer's appointment signals a victory of sorts for Mr Powell, the question of which department Mr Bremer himself will report to is yet another headache for the Bush administration.

Our correspondent says that the truth of the matter may well be that the two departments will be forced to work together to stabilise Iraq, restoring services and creating a broad-based government for the country.