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Iraq's stagnant economy and lack of employment opportunities are feeding instability in the violence-torn country, hindering prospects for prosperity, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Monday.
Writing in Britain's Independent newspaper, he said international donors must honor their aid pledges and Iraq's foreign debt should be forgiven as a means to kick-start growth.
"The economic and security situations are intertwined: without peace and security there can be no sustainable reconstruction ... yet what is feeding the instability and chaos is the lack of jobs and economic opportunity," Allawi said.
Foreign help is also needed to improve security in Iraq.
In Britain for talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Allawi wrote in the newspaper that the vast majority of Iraq's foreign debt had been built-up by Saddam Hussein's military spending sprees and would have to be waived if the country is to succeed.
International negotiations on debt relief are currently in deadlock because lenders cannot agree how much of the estimated US$120 billion should be waived.
Meanwhile, Allawi said in an interview published yesterday in the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat that a broken and depressed Saddam Hussein had appealed to him for mercy, saying his government had meant no harm during his years running the country.
"Saddam sent me a verbal message asking for mercy," Allawi said. "He said they were working for the general good and they did not aim to harm."
Falluja explosions
At least two people were killed and three wounded in explosions that rocked the rebel-held city of Falluja yesterday, hospital officials said.
The cause of the blasts was not immediately known but US warplanes were seen flying over the city.
Dhia Adel of Falluja General Hospital said the two killed and three wounded were city municipal employees using a bulldozer to work on construction projects near the Falluja railway station.
The US army has repeatedly attacked targets allegedly used by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
(China Daily September 21, 2004)
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