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| Iraq leader sombre on anniversary | Iraq leader sombre on anniversary |
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| Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has singled out violence and corruption as the main problems facing his country on the fifth anniversary of the invasion. | Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has singled out violence and corruption as the main problems facing his country on the fifth anniversary of the invasion. |
| Mr Talabani welcomed the end of Saddam Hussein's era of "torture and tyranny", but warned that violence, terrorism and corruption had now become a "disease". | Mr Talabani welcomed the end of Saddam Hussein's era of "torture and tyranny", but warned that violence, terrorism and corruption had now become a "disease". |
| He also said any further progress would not be possible without reconciliation. | He also said any further progress would not be possible without reconciliation. |
| On Wednesday, US President George Bush said the invasion had been "the right decision" and had made the world safer. | On Wednesday, US President George Bush said the invasion had been "the right decision" and had made the world safer. |
| He also said that the US military's co-operation with Sunni Arab militias was yielding the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden, and that last year's US troop surge had opened the door to a major victory. | He also said that the US military's co-operation with Sunni Arab militias was yielding the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden, and that last year's US troop surge had opened the door to a major victory. |
| No celebration | No celebration |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad says there have been no anniversary parades in the Iraqi capital to mark the day in 2003 when air raids on Baghdad signalled the beginning of the US-led offensive. | The BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad says there have been no anniversary parades in the Iraqi capital to mark the day in 2003 when air raids on Baghdad signalled the beginning of the US-led offensive. |
| The division is not between the people... it's a political division and the political division can be solved through correct distribution of wealth and power Saad Yousef al-MutalebIraqi Ministry of Reconciliation class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4489&edition=2&ttl=20080317101453">Send us your comments Iraqis seem to feel little for the anniversary, with security and the search for basic necessities still preoccupying them, our correspondent says. | |
| A statement by President Talabani on Wednesday hailed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, but also reflected the troubles afflicting his country. | A statement by President Talabani on Wednesday hailed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, but also reflected the troubles afflicting his country. |
| "The brutal regime of the dictator fell... the regime that ruled Iraq for decades, the decades of darkness. The decades that were of tyranny," Mr Talabani said. | "The brutal regime of the dictator fell... the regime that ruled Iraq for decades, the decades of darkness. The decades that were of tyranny," Mr Talabani said. |
| During his 24-year rule, Iraqi prisons were full of "innocent prisoners", he added, and became "Saddam's theatres for torture and brutal crimes". | During his 24-year rule, Iraqi prisons were full of "innocent prisoners", he added, and became "Saddam's theatres for torture and brutal crimes". |
| Mr Talabani hailed the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein | Mr Talabani hailed the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein |
| Mr Talabani said Saddam had "wasted" Iraq's oil wealth by leading into a series of wars and "violated all values of humanity" when crushing internal dissent. | Mr Talabani said Saddam had "wasted" Iraq's oil wealth by leading into a series of wars and "violated all values of humanity" when crushing internal dissent. |
| The "liberation of Iraq" by US-led forces, he said, was the start of a new era, but he also warned that today's Iraq was threatened by violence and corruption. | The "liberation of Iraq" by US-led forces, he said, was the start of a new era, but he also warned that today's Iraq was threatened by violence and corruption. |
| The campaign group, Iraq Body Count, says the civilian death toll since March 2003 is between 82,000 and 89,000, although it warns many deaths may have gone unreported. More than 4,000 coalition troops have also been killed. | The campaign group, Iraq Body Count, says the civilian death toll since March 2003 is between 82,000 and 89,000, although it warns many deaths may have gone unreported. More than 4,000 coalition troops have also been killed. |
| Election law approved | Election law approved |
| Shortly after issuing the statement, Iraq's three-man presidential council said an important new law paving the way for local elections would now be enacted. | Shortly after issuing the statement, Iraq's three-man presidential council said an important new law paving the way for local elections would now be enacted. |
| Protesters against the Iraq war demonstrating in Washington DC give their viewsIn pictures | Protesters against the Iraq war demonstrating in Washington DC give their viewsIn pictures |
| The law, seen as a vital step in the reconciliation process, was passed by the parliament last month, but had been held up by the council since then after Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi said it was unconstitutional. | The law, seen as a vital step in the reconciliation process, was passed by the parliament last month, but had been held up by the council since then after Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi said it was unconstitutional. |
| Mr Abdul-Mahdi's objection was said to centre on an article that would give the prime minister the authority to ask parliament to dismiss a provincial governor. | Mr Abdul-Mahdi's objection was said to centre on an article that would give the prime minister the authority to ask parliament to dismiss a provincial governor. |
| His party, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), won control of many of the provinces in the predominantly Shia south in the last election, but now faces a growing challenge from supporters of the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr. | His party, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), won control of many of the provinces in the predominantly Shia south in the last election, but now faces a growing challenge from supporters of the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr. |
| Saad Yousef al-Mutalebi, a spokesman for the ministry of reconciliation in Baghdad, told the BBC that Iraq was now more affected by political, rather than social divisions. | Saad Yousef al-Mutalebi, a spokesman for the ministry of reconciliation in Baghdad, told the BBC that Iraq was now more affected by political, rather than social divisions. |
| "I think we're moving to a new stage now," he said. "The division is not between the people themselves... it's a political division and the political division can be solved through correct distribution of wealth and power." | "I think we're moving to a new stage now," he said. "The division is not between the people themselves... it's a political division and the political division can be solved through correct distribution of wealth and power." |