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The United Nations must be put in charge of the reconstruction of Iraq after the ongoing US-led war against Iraq, The Sunday Telegraph quoted British Welsh Minister Peter Hain as saying.
Hain, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's cabinet minister, told the paper published on Sunday that what is crucial is that the United Nations is put in charge after the interim transitional arrangements.
That was "essential" in order to open up the huge potential for European aid and development assistance, Hain said.
"That is vital to us and the whole of the European Union," Hain added.
Hain's comments came days before Blair's summit with US President George W. Bush in Northern Ireland on April 7-8, when the two leaders are expected to discuss the administration plans for post-war Iraq.
Hain's comments would put more pressure on Blair to fight the US proposals that would place the United States firmly in charge of the new Iraqi administration, the paper said.
The Pentagon has begun outlining proposals for post-war Iraq, which put General Jay Garner, former US ambassador to Yemen, as head of the interim civilian administration of the Baghdad region.
Blair, who firmly supports the United States in this war on Iraq, was understood earlier to want the United Nations to be involved not only in the early provision of aid and reconstruction, but also in the setting-up of a new government for Iraq.
British Foreign Minister Mike O'Brien recently outlined proposals in which a US team would advise and make decisions about running basic services in the "few weeks" after a war, along with a UN commissioner.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2003)
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