International

Aldouri foresees peace

UNITED NATIONS APRIL 10 . The Iraqi envoy to the United Nations, Mohammed Aldouri, has expressed the hope that people in his country will be able to live in peace now that the U.S.-led war in Iraq is nearing an end.

"The work now is peace. We hope that peace will prevail," he told reporters in New York on Wednesday.

This was the first official Iraqi reaction available in the United States, indicating that Saddam Hussein was no longer in control of his country.

There was speculation that Mr. Aldouri would defect to the U.S. But Mr. Aldouri said he would continue to work at the U.N. "Defecting from whom?" he asked during an interview. ``I think the Government has already defected. There is no more Iraqi Government to defect from."

In reply to a query he said, "I have no relationship with Mr. Hussein, so I can't tell you. I have no communication with Iraq. I am here so I know nothing about what is going on there."

He told CNN in an interview that "the game is over." The envoy later clarified that he was referring to the war.

"The Iraqi people at the end of the day would have a peaceful life," he said.

This week, Mr Aldouri went about his duties at the United Nations, including attending meetings with other Arab envoys. Mr Aldouri has been the chief representative of his country to the U.N. since early 2001.

— UNI

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