British Foreign Secretary Welcomes New Team of Ministers in Iraq

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today.

"I welcome today's formal swearing-in of the interim team of Iraqi
ministers. This represents a significant increase in responsibility
in the hands of Iraqis, including for issues like security. These
ministers and the Governing Council have real responsibilities,
particularly for taking many of the day-to-day decisions concerning
the process of reconstruction and the running of the new Iraqi
ministries.

"Following the establishment of the Governing Council in July and the
appointment of a preparatory constitutional committee in August, the
swearing-in of ministers is a further step towards government by
Iraqis for Iraqis."

Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AH

Iraq: End Deliberate Attacks on Civilians

(New York, August 30, 2003) -- Today's car bomb attack in the Iraqi holy city
of al-Najaf was a deliberate attack on civilians that violates the most
fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch
said.

The attack occurred just as Friday worshippers were leaving the Imam Ali
mosque that houses the Tomb of Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Early reports indicate that more than 80 people were killed, and many others
trapped in the rubble of what had been the mosque entrance.

Those slain include Ayatollah Muhammad Baqer al-Hakim, believed to have been
the prime target of the attack. A leading Shi'a cleric, he headed the Supreme
Council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq.

"Attacks that intentionally target civilians are war crimes," said Hanny
Megally, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East division. "We
call on all Iraqi political groups and community leaders to condemn these
atrocities, to support every effort to prevent them, and to bring the
perpetrators to justice."

The attacks have raised serious concerns among Iraqis about the ability of
the U.S.-led coalition to maintain security in Iraq.

Friday's attack was the third car bombing against civilians in the past month
in Iraq. The other two occurred in Baghdad, at the Jordanian Embassy on
August 7 and at United Nations headquarters on August 19.

The holy city of al-Najaf has itself been the scene of recent attacks on
Shi'a clerics. Abd al-Majid al-Khoie was killed by a mob in April. Five days
ago, unknown persons attempted to assassinate Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad
Sa`id al-Hakim, an uncle of Ayatollah al-Hakim, lightly injuring him but
killing two of his bodyguards and a driver.