US marines deny Baghdad "governor" appointed

BAGHDAD (AFP) Apr 17, 2003
The US Marine Corp said Thursday that no appointments of Iraqis had been made or sanctioned to lead this country's civil administration in the aftermath of war.

Public affairs officer Captain Joe Plenzler distanced the marines from two Iraqis claiming to have been elected by local leaders as the mayor of Baghdad and as an interim governor.

"Anyone declaring themself as mayor or anything else is just not true, the US government has not appointed anyone," Plenzler told AFP.

"Anyone can call themselves anything they want to, but future appointments like this will be handled through USAID."

USAID is Washington's chief agency for international development.

Mohammed Mohsen Zubeidi emerged Wednesday as a self-appointed governor claiming he was picked to lead an interim administration here by tribal and religious officials and with US consent.

Iraqi National Congress (INC) "General" Jaudat Obeidi also told a news conference that he had been selected mayor of Baghdad.

SPACE.WIRE