IRAQ: THE IRAQI TOWN OF SAFWAN IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHALLENGES WHICH THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO FACE IN ORDER FOR IRAQ TO RECLAIM NORMALITY
Record ID:
646527
IRAQ: THE IRAQI TOWN OF SAFWAN IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHALLENGES WHICH THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO FACE IN ORDER FOR IRAQ TO RECLAIM NORMALITY
- Title: IRAQ: THE IRAQI TOWN OF SAFWAN IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHALLENGES WHICH THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO FACE IN ORDER FOR IRAQ TO RECLAIM NORMALITY
- Date: 14th April 2003
- Summary: SAFWAN, SOUTHERN IRAQ (APRIL 14, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV/SV BRITISH SOLDIERS ON PATROL IN SAFWAN STREETS, SECURING TOWN (4 SHOTS) SV SOLDIERS TALKING TO RESIDENTS OF SAFWAN MCU (English) MAJOR HENRY BOUSKELL, IN CHARGE OF ORGANISING A LOCAL COUNCIL TO GET SAFWAN RUNNING AGAIN, SAYING: "The Town Council is actually called the Interim Committee to make the point that it's a temporary thing and it's only a committee which doesn't actually empower it to do anything. What I hope to do is, I have a few people who were sitting at the table when I arrived, and they were empowered, if you like, by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent, who were giving aid to a particular group of people and asking them to distribute it. Those are the first people at the table, and my soldiers are on the ground talking about who should be representing the people at Major Henry's committee. Those names are called forward at a sort of informal democratic process, if you like, to canvass the opinion of people as to who should sit at our table." LV/SLV OF SOLDIERS TALKING TO CIVILIANS (3 SHOTS) MCU (Arabic) BASHIR, PROSPECTIVE LOCAL COMMITTEE MEMBER, SAYING: "We had planned to meet at 2 o'clock, but not enough people showed-up to represent the local region. We want a government which is representative and democratic and elected to represent the Iraqi people." SVWOMEN WITH CHILDREN SLV BRITISH SOLDIERS MOVING PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT BEEN INVITED OUT OF MEETING (2 SHOTS) CU OF OLD WOMAN SV MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 29th April 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SAFWAN, SOUTHERN IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Politics,People
- Reuters ID: LVABTXZ1PXDWC1QDXTO9BZQHFHAU
- Story Text: The southern Iraqi town of Safwan has no electrify, no water, no police and no local government or functioning school but despite its small size, it is an example of the challenges which the country will have to face in order for Iraq to reclaim a semblance of normality.
The composition of a new government for Iraq and how to rebuild the country will be tackled for the first time on Tuesday (April 15) in a meeting in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriyah. In attendance will be Iraqi opposition groups, U.S. overseers and U.N. observers.
They face the task of trying to ease tribal as well as Muslim sectarian differences in a country still under attack in some areas by U.S. and British forces.
One of the most high-profile Iraqi exile leaders and a Pentagon favourite, Ahmed Chalabi, will send a representative to the Nassiriyah meeting.
On Monday (April 14), Major Henry Bouskell, the British leader of a programme to set up a local council to get the town of Safwan running again, planned a meeting in the town intended to include at least 11 Iraqi elders and other community members.
One farming leader showed up at the arranged time, only to drift away when British forces went to investigate what sounded like an explosion. Bouskell said the meeting was postponed until Tuesday (April 15).
The southern Iraqi border town of Safwan has no electricity, no water, no police and no local government or functioning schools.
As humble and down-trodden as Safwan and its population of 8,000 people and 38 tribes are, it could be seen as a litmus test for what it will take to get Iraq back on its feet.
If public order and utilities can barely be restored to a small town on Kuwait's border, one of the first to be controlled by U.S. forces when the war began on March 20, the difficulties for the rest of the country of more than 22 million people spread across 434,924 square kilometres (167,925 square miles) are clear.
The planned programme includes restoring water and electricity to Safwan, ensuring no weapons are carried in public, and eventually training an Iraqi auxiliary police force with limited powers to patrol alongside British military police. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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