Arab countries' refusal to recognize Iraq's Interim Governing Council (IGC) as the legitimate government of Iraq dealt a heavy blow to the hope of the American-appointed 25-member council to win a broad international recognition.

The interim council, inaugurated on July 13, represents different shades of the ethnic mosaic of Iraq.

The Arab refusal to recognize the council, which would cast doubt on Iraq's relation with the Arab League, came in a statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher following a special meeting in Cairo Monday with his Syrian and Saudi counterparts Faruk Al-Shareh and Saud Al-Faisal.

The meeting reviewed the Arab situation, including Iraq's development, and the stalled peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Observers said the Arab countries' decision would add to the difficulties already faced by the council in its attempts to win over the support of the Iraqi public opinion, which received the formation of the council with almost indifference. According to many Iraqis, the council lacks real powers, including legislative ones which remain in the hands of the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority Paul Bremer, the actual ruler of Iraq.

Even Bremer himself, who is seeking to win international, including Arab, support for the council, refused to cede away his powers concerning the security issue when asked by the council to entrust this issue to the council.

This decision by Bremer further complicated the already difficult situation the council is facing in the wake of the dramatic downfall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in April, which left a security vacuum in Iraq.

However, observers believe that the Arab refusal to recognize the Interim Governing Council would increase pressure on the United States to speed up the transfer of power to a national democratic government representing all factions of the Iraqi people, a demand supported by the overwhelming majority of the 25 million Iraqi people.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2003)