Date:25/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/25/stories/2003042503471400.htm

International

Govt. process by next week: Garner

BAGHDAD april 24. The ``governmental process'' in Iraq will be up and running by the end of next week and all Ministries will have Iraqi officials at the helm as soon as possible, the American general in charge of rebuilding the country said on Thursday.

Retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner spoke at a news conference after meeting scores of Iraqi technocrats and academics on efforts to bring democracy and stability to this leaderless country. ``You will begin to see the governmental process begin by the end of next week,'' he said. ``It is very important that people start back to work, especially those in public service.''

Lt. Gen. Garner said he had a coordinator for every Ministry, and will ensure that all Ministries have a proper place to work. That includes finding new buildings, furniture and office supplies for those agencies whose offices were damaged by U.S. bombing. Among the topics at the meeting was how people in Baghdad would prefer to choose new municipal leadership to fill the vacuum created by the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.