Show A6 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Friday April 25j 2003 Q Iraq occupation I I Rumsfeld declares US won’t permit theocracy WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will not allow an religious government to take hold in Iraq Defense Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press He also said Syria and others in the region will not be permitted to influence Iraq’s future “If you’re suggesting how would we feel about an Iran- government with a few clerics running everything in the country the answer is: That isn’t going to happen” he said Shiites in Iraq are the majority Islamic sect- - and they disagree on whether to embrace a secular government or an theocracy Some US officials worry that the Islamic government in Iran which is predominantly Shiite may seek to influence Iraq’s postwar reshaping Interviewed in his Pentagon conference room Rumsfeld also said that US and British Iran-sty- le ian-ty- pe Iran-sty- le AP photo nDUolu xp I A student holds a picture of President Bush that she wears around her neck during a party at Primary School in Kirkuk Iraq on Thursday Students returned to school for the first time since the war in Iraq ended a forces are searching for many more former members of foe Saddam Hussein government than the 55 on a “most want- ed” list “In fact we have a list of some 200” he said “That original list was purposely kept low at the outset because we wanted to separate the worst people from the regime hoping that others would come forward” Rumsfeld said more of the top 55 have been captured in the past day or so than have been announced He gave no details and said that once the identities were verified they would be made public Rumsfeld said the Iraqi people after decades of political repression need time to adjust to a new reality and to determine for themselves how to organize a new government and elections President Bush made a similar point Thursday in a speech to workers at a tank factory in Ohio “One thing is certam: We will not impose a government on Iraq” Bush said “We will help that nation build a government of by and for foe Iraqi people’ Rumsfeld who is scheduled to visit Iraq soon painted a mostly upbeat picture of progress in stabilizing foie country and moving it toward establishing a new government As evidence of progress he said humanitarian aid groups that specialize in emergency care are now leav- ing Iraq “because there is not an emergency" in terms of food and water supplies On other topics Rumsfeld said there is no evidence yet to bear out prewar assertions by the Bush administration that Iraq possessed a small number of Scud missiles banned by the United Nations As for Saddam Rumsfeld said he doesn’t know whether he’s dead or alive but Iraqis are better off without him in ' power Shiites split between secular theocratic BAGHDAD Iraq (AP) — A senior Shiite Muslim cleric sternly considering Iraq's future slates ail unbending tenet "We do not put our hand in the hand of foreign- ers" Although he referred to American troops and civilians mans Iraqi Shiites are also suspicious of their brethren who spent time overseas and became secularized Even as Shiites move to establish power in a Hussein Iraq they’re divided over a vision for their nation As the majority sect they have the numbers to ' shape Iraq But they disagree over whether to embrace a secular government or an Iran-stytheocracy A substantial number of Shiites are secular and many belong to liberal leftist and nationalist parlies But their conservative clerics arc more outspoken -- - and lhc have the clout "This is a light' over who will be theultimale spokesman for the Shiites in determining Iraq’s future" said Abdel Majid Zirkat a Lebanese researcher on Shiite affairs Shiite clerics demonstrated their organizational abilities this week staging a huge pilgrimage in southern Iraq that signaled Shiites’ determination to secure a political role in Iraq after decades of suppression under Saddam and his minority Sunnis Clerics such as Grand Ayatollah Ali Hussein who heads a historic center of post-Sadda- m le See SPLIT on A8 localions Intoinimafkilownsmay hwebeentataiNoialstytBSstzBsorcoknaNaiablBMI ION N ‘‘Orig'&'Oilglmr pricanpntoMwtiwNchsatenwwnwirtlMbminxk LGivelOurlGiftlCaFdll LfiSAM Mala St 435-752-42- 07 OGDEN - NEWGATE MAIL 3451 VM Stow howl feat Ma ray by tocotlwi 1102 Ad031201mt1 Al Star 3 042Sfl3 Bqi 04Z7AB 0 Vtilt out wb lto ot wwwnmyrtr com |