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News Analysis

• The Baghdad meeting agreed on holding a national conference to establish an Iraqi interim Government. The meeting apparently had wide ranging representation but strong concerns exist that since a list of those who participated was not released, not even to participants, then the conference did not proportionally represent Iraq's population - most likely under-representing the majority Shia Muslims.
  
  
• Regional powers are apparently taking a new, positive approach to the Iraqi issue. However, Arab leaders lined up to meet former Iraqi foreign minister, Adnan Pachachi, in a bid to maintain the rule of a minority in Iraq.

  
  
• In plain manifestation of its bureaucracy, the UN was unable to send a representative to the Baghdad meeting since that required a Security Council Resolution. However, the UN finally decided that Iraq is safe and allowed its humanitarian staff into the country.
  
  
• Attempts are under way to restore Iraq's southern marshlands, a unique 5,000 years old ecological system, . It was dried up and poisoned by Saddam in 1993. Mass graves are being discovered continuously in Iraq. More of Saddam's officials and Ba'ath party members are being arrested.
  
  
• The city of Mosul is to have its first free elections in decades. UK diplomats returned to Iraq for the first time in 12 years.

  
  
• General Tommy Franks returns to Florida as President Bush announces victory in the war on Saddam. EU forces are to join the US and the UK in Iraq as peace keepers. They will be part of a multi-national stabilizing force.