U.S. says does not recognise Baghdad "governor"

Reuters | 4/21/03

[kattracks]

U.S. says does not recognise Baghdad "governor"

BAGHDAD, April 21 (Reuters) - The United States does not recognise a former exile who says he is governor of Baghdad and Washington thinks his deputy cannot represent Iraq at an OPEC meeting this week, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.

Barbara Bodine, coordinator for central Iraq in the U.S. civil administration supervising the country's reconstruction, said Washington did not recognise Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi.

"We don't really know much about him except that he's declared himself mayor," said Bodine, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen. "We don't recognise him. There hasn't been a process of selection. Once there's a process, then whomever."

Zubaidi's self-styled deputy, Jawdat al-Obeidi, told Reuters on Sunday he would lead an Iraqi delegation to a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries starting on Thursday in Vienna.

"He can't," said Bodine during a visit to Baghdad by Jay Garner, the U.S. civilian administrator for postwar Iraq. "I don't think OPEC would take him. We wouldn't prevent him but I would find it odd that OPEC would accept him as a representative," she said.

04/21/03 05:08 ET

[Slings and Arrows]

Somewhere in Heaven, Emperor Norton is smiling.

[Samurai_Jack]

I AM THE MAYOR OF BAGHDAD!!

[silverdog]

He wants first crack at the money and thinks (rightly?) that bold-faced effrontery is all it will take.