Turkish ambassador on troops, demo over detained cleric
(8 Oct 2003) Baghdad, 8 October, 2003 1. Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Osman Paksut 2. SOUNDBITE (English): Osman Paksut, Turkish Ambassador to Iraq: "I don't know how many members are opposed or how many members are in favour. It has to reflect the senses of both sides and of course it is not the aim of Turkey to come to Iraq as an occupying force. We want to be here as a friendly, stabilising, contributing factor. We see the sending of a military force as just another way of helping the stabilisation and reconstruction which, together with humanitarian aid, economic relations, trade, expertise and also..." (Question from reporter: What about the bad blood between Turkey and Iraq?) "There is no such thing. Thank you very much." 3. Paksut walking away Baghdad, 8 October, 2003 4. Wide commemoration of slain Shiite leader Mohammed Baqir Al-Hakim 5. Wide of speaker on stage 6. Wide of officials seated on stage including Paul Bremer 7. People listening to ceremony 8. SOUNDBITE: (English): Paul Bremer, US Administrator for Iraq: "It's an honour to be able to join you here today to pay tribute to Sayid Ayatollah Mohammed al-Hakim, a man deeply devoted and respected for his devotion both to God and to the people of Iraq.'' 9. Cutaway of audience 10. Ayad Allawee, Chairman of Iraqi Governing Council speaking at podium 11. Audience listening 12. Moafaq Al-Rubayee 13. SOUNDBITE: (English): Moafaq Al-Rubayee, Member of Iraqi Governing Council: "There are still differences between the Governing Council but they not are reconcilable differences. We can reconcile these differences and I am sure we can make headway towards that. We will make this as part of the history. I don't think, this is not a stumbling block in our relationship with the Coalition Provisional Government...Coalition Provisional Authority." 14. Al-Rubayee walking away Coalition headquarters, Baghdad, 8 October 2003 15. Various of Shiite demonstrators waving flags and chanting 16. US troops watching demonstrators 17. Cleric arriving 18. Cleric waving to supporters 19. Various of demonstrators 20. Cleric speaking to crowd 21. Demonstrators shouting anti-US slogans STORYLINE: Turkey has dismissed opposition from Iraq's Governing Council over the deployment of Turkish peacekeepers, saying their troops were not coming as an occupying force. Turkey's ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut comments after the Turkish Parliament approved plans to send troops to Iraq. Several members of the US-appointed Governing Council have opposed the deployments of peacekeepers from Turkey and other neighbouring countries. But Moafaq Al-Rubayee, member of the Iraqi Governing Council was confident that the dispute did not represent a stumbling block between the Governing Council and the Coalition Authority. Paksut spoke to the media following the memorial ceremony for the slain Shiite leader Sayid Ayatollah Mohammed al-Hakim who was killed in an explosion outside a mosque in Najaf in August. The ceremony was attended by the US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer who also paid tribute to the cleric. Meanwhile, hundreds of Shiite protesters demonstrated in front of US headquarters in Baghdad demanding the release of Imam Sheikh Moaiyed al-Khazraji, who was detained by US forces on charges of hiding weapons in his mosque. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
