This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7306093.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Iraq leader sombre on anniversary Iraq leader sombre on anniversary
(about 1 hour later)
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 celebrationNo 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. Iraqis seem to feel little for the anniversary, with security and the search for basic necessities still preoccupying them, our correspondent says.
Reconstruction and the building of services and culture cannot be achieved in the shadow of economic corruption, manipulation and the placement of dishonest people in sensitive places Nouri MalikiIraqi Prime Minister Press highlight negativesSend us your comments
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. During his 24-year rule, Iraqi prisons were full of "innocent prisoners", he said 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". The "liberation of Iraq" by US-led forces, Mr Talabani said, was the start of a new era, but he also warned that today's Iraq was still gravely threatened.
Mr Talabani hailed the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein "The walk on this new path began five years ago but it faces huge difficulties. There is violence and terrorism and corruption has become a dangerous disease," he said.
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 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 approvedElection 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 by 1 October would now be enacted.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_us_iraq_war_protests/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_us_iraq_war_protests/html/1.stm', '1205959115', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Protesters against the Iraq war demonstrating in Washington DC give their views href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_us_iraq_war_protests/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_us_iraq_war_protests/html/1.stm', '1205959115', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures Mr Talabani hailed the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein
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. The presidency's announcement was welcomed by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, in a speech on Thursday.
"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." "Reconstruction and the building of services and culture cannot be achieved in the shadow of economic corruption, manipulation and the placement of dishonest people in sensitive places," he said. "These things must be reviewed before the provincial elections."
'Turned the table'
Mr Maliki's national security adviser, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, told the BBC that the "considerable reduction" in violence witnessed in Iraq over the past eight to 10 months could be attributed to a number of factors.
Firstly, the Iraqi security forces reached a "critical mass" in their numbers, preparedness and equipment levels, with the ministries of defence and interior now in command more than 600,000 personnel, he said.
Instead of leaving thousands of youngsters in the streets to be picked up by al-Qaeda, we should pay them more than al-Qaeda is paying them Mouwaffaq al-RubaieIraqi National Security Adviser
Mr Rubaie said the willingness of so-called Sunni Arab Awakening movements to work with the US and Iraqi forces, and the declaration of a ceasefire by Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army militia had, along with the US troop surge last year, also been crucial.
He also noted the Iraqi government's engagement with the neighbouring countries of Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia, whose porous borders are believed to have been crossed by hundreds of insurgents.
Mr Rubaie said the government now faced a real challenge to maintain the low level of violence witnessed in recent months.
He said this could only be achieved through a policy of "aggressive national reconciliation", which included a comprehensive package of improvements in infrastructure and the provision of services, as well as job creation.
The majority of the criminal acts in Iraq, including attacks by militant groups, were financially motivated, he said.
"Instead of leaving thousands of youngsters in the streets to be picked up by al-Qaeda, we should pay them more than al-Qaeda is paying them," he said.