In Iraq, Brahimi continues consultations on transition to sovereignty

United Nations Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi today continued consultations on the transition to sovereignty in Iraq.

Mr. Brahimi met in Baghdad with Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, as well as his principal aide, Adel Abdel Mahdi.

Among other topics, they discussed various aspects of the 30 June transition, including the importance of the new government having the time to work out its relationship with the occupying power, the armed forces on the ground and the UN, according to a UN spokesman.

Mr. Brahimi later met with a group of 15 newspaper editors representing the main Iraqi dailies. He then had a town hall meeting with over 50 Iraqi men and women, representing a wide spectrum of society, including leaders from business, academia and religious groups.