The sovereignty of Iraq is of course inseparable after the handover of its power which is scheduled for June 30, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Tuesday.  

"The Iraqi people should run their own country after the handover of its power so as to let the United Nations play its due role and create conditions for a lasting, secure, stable and peaceful Iraq in future," said Kong at a regular press conference.

However, the situation in Iraq is turning increasingly more turbulent instead of moving toward a good direction, Kong acknowledged. "China is very concerned about that."

To settle the Iraqi issue, China holds that the voices of the Iraqi people from various strata should be heard on such major issues as transition and election, said Kong, adding that primary consensus can be reached according to their voices while the Iraqi sovereignty can be resumed based on the consensus.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2004)