DAMASCUS, 19 August 2003 — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday called the United States and Britain undemocratic for installing a governing council in Iraq instead of allowing Iraqis to elect their own government.
Mahathir, speaking at a news conference in Damascus where he is discussing economic cooperation, urged resistance against what he saw as attempts by Western states to manipulate Muslims.
“If these countries truly believe in democracy they should allow the Iraqis to form their own government in whatever way they choose,” said Mahathir.
“We (Muslims) should not allow ourselves to be influenced or to be manipulated by Western countries,” said Mahathir, whose country will chair the 56-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for three years.
The 25-member Iraqi council appointed by the United States enjoys some executive powers, although Iraq’s US civil administrator retains a veto over its decisions. Syria has said it will not recognize the US-appointed Governing Council in Iraq because it is not an independent body.
Syria, a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, abstained when fellow members of the body voted for the creation of the Iraqi council. Syria said then it hoped the creation of the council would “pave the way for the creation of a national government that represents the whole spectrum of Iraqi society.”
Mahathir said on Sunday that Kula Lumpur will not consider sending troops for any peacekeeping mission in Iraq so long as such a move is not sanctioned by the world body.
“We will have nothing to do with whatever is being done in Iraq, which is not sanctioned or initiated by the United Nations,” he said.
The United States had asked NATO member Turkey, also a member of the OIC, to take part in peacekeeping in Iraq after facing mounting casualties. Ankara is yet to give a final answer.
