A tribal leader chosen to help run a civic administration for Basra was bombarded with questions today from frustrated citizens about the problems facing Iraq's second city.
Sheikh Muzahem al-Tamimi told around 150 people attending a meeting in the city's teaching hospital that he recognised that water and electricity supplies were inadequate but pleaded for patience to solve the problems.
"I do not have the time to achieve all these things you want right now," the sheikh told the meeting. "All this work is difficult."
Sheikh Al-Tamimi was asked by British commanders, whose troops control the city, to head up a committee to help run a civic administration here after Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath party was ousted two weeks ago.
He has been holding regular meetings with senior British officers, detailing the major obstacles facing the population and passing on feedback from civilians.
One man told the sheikh that the water quality was so poor that it was causing major health problems.
Doctors at Basra's main hospital say there has been an outbreak of diarrheal disease as a result of the lack of clean drinking water caused by a breakdown in purification plants.
"Do you want me to make all the water arriving at your homes to be pure? It's impossible," said the sheikh.
But he pledged to try and enlist the support of the British to help mend the plants. British army engineers have already offered their expertise in a bid to improve water and electricity supplies.
AFP