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US administrator Paul Bremer handed power to Chief Justice Midhat
Al-Mahmodi
2004: US transfers power back to Iraq
England have
The United States has handed power back to the Iraqi people at a low-key
ceremony in Baghdad.
US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi judge at a
handover brought forward two days in an attempt to prevent the occasion being
marked by bloodshed.
Mr Bremer flew out of the country shortly after. His departure ends 15
months of US control in Iraq.
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who attended the handover in the
city's heavily-guarded "Green Zone", said it was an "historic day" for Iraq.
Mr Allawi's cabinet were sworn in at a later ceremony, also held in
secret.
"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a
much better place." Paul Bremer said.
The new prime minister made a televised address after formally taking
office.
He told Iraqis: "I call on our people to stand united to expel the foreign
terrorists who are killing our children and destroying our country."
Although power is back in Iraqi hands, US President George Bush said
American troops would remain in the country as long as they were needed.
The president added that US presence would also be at the request of the
newly-formed interim government.
Mr Bremer defended his country's reasons for being in Iraq, referring to
recently discovered graves where thousands victims of Saddam Hussein's regime
are believed to be buried.
The former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator said: "Anybody who
has any doubt about whether Iraq is a better place today than it was 14 months
ago should go down and see the mass graves in Hilla.
"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a
much better place."
The power handover was welcomed by world leaders. The European Union and
Nato alliance both pledged their support for Mr Allawi's government.
Mr Bush and Mr Blair were apparently the only leaders at the current Nato
summit who knew the transfer of sovereignty would take place early.
The news was revealed by Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking
after talks with the UK prime minister.
Leaving the Commons will give her more freedom to "speak her mind", she
says
1991: Thatcher to retire from Commons
Artificially 1969:
The Margaret Thatcher is to give up her seat in the House of Commons at the
general election.
The former prime minister, who has held her Finchley seat for more than 30
years, said she intended to remain in politics and wanted to go to the House of
Lords.
Mrs Thatcher's announcement comes seven months after she was ousted from
Number 10 by Conservative Party colleagues.
"Making this decision now as far as national politics is concerned makes it
quite clear that I have no desire or expectation to go back into Number 10," she
said.
She said her decision to leave the Commons would give her more freedom to
speak her mind, and made it clear she would fight any European integration that
would threaten British sovereignty.
One of her wiser judgements
Labour leader Neil Kinnock
But she was careful to pledge her loyalty to Prime Minister John Major and
his government.
Mrs Thatcher insisted there was no lingering bitterness over her departure
from Downing Street, and said: "I had the marvellous privilege of being there
for 11? nearly 12 years.
"That's nearly half as long again as any American president can be
president of the United States."
Labour leader Neil Kinnock described Mrs Thatcher's decision to step down
as "one of her wiser judgements".
Predicting a Labour victory at the general election, he said the former
prime minister was leaving the Commons because "she doesn't want to face losing
her seat or at best going on the opposition benches".
Mr Major said Mrs Thatcher's departure would be a sad loss to the Commons,
but added he was sure it would not be the end of her contribution to political
life.
Vocabulary:
low-key: not flashy or intense;understated(低调的)
interim: serving during an intermediate interval of time(临时的;过渡的) |
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发表于 2016-7-9 23:38:13