Bremer vows to crack down on lawlessness and help rebuild Iraq

IRAQ: Iraq's new civil administrator has vowed to put thousands of criminals released by Saddam Hussein back in jail and break the grip of lawlessness on Baghdad.

Mr Paul Bremer, speaking in Baghdad at his debut news conference, also said he would issue orders shortly to remove Saddam's Ba'ath Party officials who have crept back into power and eradicate their ideology from Iraq - a demand advocated by other Iraqi political groups.

"There is a serious law and order problem, we will continue to address it," he told reporters.

Mr Bremer, a terrorism expert, said his job was to "help the Iraqi people retake and rebuild their country".

Mr Bremer was appointed by the US Defense Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, to take over from the head of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, General Jay Garner, who is due to leave Baghdad in 10 days' time, said he had "heard from dozens of Iraqis of their gratitude to the coalition for freeing them".

The coalition, he said, intends to transform Iraq into a "safe, peaceful and prosperous country".

"Life is getting better . . . Iraq is not a country in anarchy. People are going about their business and lives . . . More Iraqis have access to electricity than ever before in the north and south. In Baghdad this is 40-60 per cent.

"The instruments of repression have been removed . . . The Shias are able to honour their religious practices, town councils have resumed and the water quality in Basra is better now than in years."

Mr Bremer said Ba'athists appointed to positions by the US would be "removed from office" even if technically competent. Iraqis say that since all officials of any stature in the previous administration had to be members of the party, this means that virtually all civil servants could be barred from employment.

"Security cannot come too soon," Mr Bremer stated. Fifteen thousand more troops are set to come to the capital as well as thousands of military police, and US forces had begun more aggressive patrols at night, he added. On Wednesday night, he said that 93 criminals had been caught and detained, raising the number over 48 hours to 300.

To prepare for the creation of an interim authority, Mr Bremer said he would be meeting Iraqi political figures who have returned from exile as well as those who remained in the country.

One of the leading personalities to come home, after 36 years abroad, Dr Adnan Pachachi, a former foreign minister, told The Irish Times yesterday that he had not met Mr Bremer or been contacted by his staff. Dr Pachachi, who heads the Free Democracy Movement formed in March, is highly critical of the approach of the Bush administration.

"I've been going around and talking to people. I went to Najaf yesterday. From what I have heard, the main concern of the people is law and order. People also depend on monthly salaries but these haven't been paid. And they need the various essential services - electricity and telephones. Something must also be done to raise the purchasing power of the dinar."

Asked if he thought Iraq could develop a democratic system of government, Dr Pachachi said: "Maybe the people will try democracy after three wars and sanctions. One thing that is encouraging is that there have been no fights between Shias and Sunnis, Arabs and Kurds."

He said he would participate in a national conference to choose an interim government if it is called in June.

He said he would like to see the UN take over the administration of Iraq from the US.