Security Council hails handover of authority to interim Iraqi Government

Hailing an end to the occupation of Iraq, the United Nations Security Council today welcomed the handover of full responsibility and authority to the country's "fully sovereign and independent" interim Government, while condemning ongoing violence.

In a press statement read by Council President Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr. of the Philippines, the members also underscored the proposed timetable for the political transition, the possibility of an international meeting, and "the leading role of the United Nations to assist the interim Government of Iraq in implementing the political process" with elections to be held no later than the end of next January.

"The members of the Council call on all Iraqis to implement these arrangements peaceably and in full," Ambassador Baja said.

All States and relevant organizations were called on to support the interim Government in this process, and in its efforts to bring economic reconstruction, peace, unity and stability to Iraq, he added.

At the same time, the statement condemned "in the strongest terms, the continued violence in Iraq, which should not be allowed to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition."