Iraqi Opposition: Iraq must be a democratic - federal country

Iraq, 15/4 2003 (CNN) -- Iraqi leaders opposed to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein convened Tuesday in the ancient southern Iraqi town of Ur -the first of several U.S.- sponsored meetings on the nation's future. Following is a 13-point statement released by the U.S. Central Command about the proposed new Iraqi government and future meetings:

1. Iraq must be democratic.

2. The future government of Iraq should not be based on communal identity.

3. The future government of Iraq should be organized as a democratic federal

system, but on the basis of countrywide consultation.

4. The rule of law must be paramount.

5. Iraq must be built on respect for diversity including respect for the

role of women.

6. The meeting discusses the role of religion in state and society.

7. The meeting discussed the principle that Iraqis must choose their

leaders, not have them imposed from outside.

8. Political violence must be rejected, and that Iraqis must immediately

organize themselves for the task of reconstruction at both the local and

national levels.

9. Iraqis and the coalition must work together to tackle the immediate

issues of restoring security and basic services.

10. The Baath party must be dissolved and its effects on society must be

eliminated.

11. There should be an open dialogue with all national political groups to

bring them into the process.

12. The meeting condemns the looting that has taken place and the

destruction of documents.

13. The Iraqi participation in the [Ur] meeting voted that there should be

another meeting in 10 days in a location to be determined with additional

Iraqi participants and to discuss procedures for developing an Iraqi interim

authority.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)

Nordic Representation

P.O BOX 7127

SE-170 07 SOLNA