Iraqi PM gives no time for end to insurgency

27 June 2005

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq's Prime Minister, today delivered a speech at Chatham House about the democratic tradition of Islam and discussed the intricacies of a religion often misunderstood in the West.

In a separate question and answer session Mr al-Jaafari took questions on the current situation in Iraq including the issue of the voracity and the duration of the Iraqi insurgency. He said 'It is very difficult in a political process to give a time. This depends on the security forces, the terrorists and also the infiltration from neighbouring countries'.

Mr al-Jaafari also said that a few years ago it would not have been possible to conceive of a democratic Iraq without Saddam Hussein. People then would have thought that these scenarios were at least twelve years away.

Notes for editors:

Ibrahim al-Jaafari delivered his speech at Chatham House on Monday 20 June 2005 during his visit to the UK. He also had meetings with the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister. A transcript summary of his comments are expected to be made available shortly.

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