Car bomb on the eve of National Conference

In a few days UN back in Baghdad.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/AP) – On the same day organisers of the National Conference announced its start on July 31, a car bomb exploded in Baquba, 55 km north-east of Baghdad. Health Ministry officials confirmed that a car exploded in an area near a police station, government buildings and a crowded market killing 68 people and wounding 48.

The bombing follows a long list of similar terrorist attacks that includes the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003 which killed UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 22 other people. That blast led to the complete withdrawal of UN international personnel from Iraq. Now the UN is getting ready to go back to the country on a stronger foundation.

The National Conference is considered a fundamental step on the path towards democracy. It is planned for July 31-August 2 in a location that remains undisclosed for security reasons. Notwithstanding a directive enacted by outgoing US occupation authorities which wanted all its work wrapped up by July's end, the conference was delayed by a few days at the request of the UN who argued that it was not yet "technically" ready. "We don't want to go ahead without the UN," said Fuad Masoum, the conference chairperson. "The UN presence is vital to us," he added.

About one thousand delegates will meet to appoint a 100-member provisional assembly whose task will be to oversee the process leading to the first post-Saddam elections scheduled for January 2005. The Assembly will also have the power to approve the national budget, veto moves by the Prime Minister with a two-thirds majority, and name replacements to cabinet positions in the event of resignation or death.

Mr Masoum has not yet released the names of the delegates. In the meantime, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the UN's new envoy, will soon arrive in Baghdad. He will be responsible for the UN return to the country "whenever the security situation allows it."

Despite all the months of doubts and uncertainties, not all UN activities were stopped in Iraq. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq moved early in the year from Cyprus to Jordan for security reasons. With a reduced staff, UN agencies have continued planning and executing assistance projects in the fields of health (medical assistance and vaccination), economic development and food assistance (provision of fertilisers, planting seeds and fuel to farmers) and humanitarian aid and education for children.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) are but a few of the United Nations agencies committed to helping Iraq.

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