Statement by IDAO on the appointment of a 'prime minister' for Iraq

After much deliberations and promises of transferring " full and genuine " sovereignty to a new Iraqi government to take the country forward to a free and fare election next year it was announced yesterday that a former Bathist with no democratic credentials and with strong links to the US and British intelligence services will be the new Iraqi prime minister.

The appointment of Ayad Allawi to this post, with the apparent blessing of the United Nations, reinforces two stark facts that: the united states is fundamentally and irrevocably at odds with with the democratic aspiration of our people and that the United Nations has once again abandoned its responsibilities and founding principles by becoming no more than an extension of US foreign policy. This appointment is a slap in the face for Iraqis and freedom loving people across the world.

While the Iraqi people steadfast to end the occupation, the United Nations must own up to its responsibities by not abandoning the Iraqi people in their struggle for freedom and democracy particularly since great crimes were committed in the name of this international organization in the past against the Iraqi people, notably the economic sanction which lasted for 13 years and killed more than a million people and its failure to stop an illegal and immoral war and occupation.

Such clearly US-sponsored appointment, from the ranks of the much-discredited Governing Council, will have very little Iraqi popular support and is a recipe for the continuation of insecurity, chaos and political oppression in Iraq.

Iraqi people show unity in Baghdad Friday prayers. They will not accept a US appointed PM with links to the CIA and the ex-Bathist regime