Leaders of Iraqi opposition groups agreed today to a US-sponsored deal to close ranks and form a joint body of 65 members in anticipation of a post-Saddam Hussein era.
Opponents of the Iraqi president, preparing for a possible US-led war that could topple his regime, adopted a political declaration calling for a democratic and federal post-Saddam Iraq.
The opposition also adopted a document outlining the principles of a transition period that would follow the overthrow of Saddam. The agreement came after four days of talks in London.
Mr Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress, told journalists the "follow-up and co-ordination committee" would hold its first meeting in Iraqi Kurdistan on or around January 15th next year.
The Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq has been off-limits to the Baghdad government since the end of the 1991 Gulf War.
Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's representative for "regime change" in Iraq, was at the final session of the conference, after prodding the participants to bury their differences and forge a common front.
Earlier today, Iraq's state-run media described the US-backed opposition groups as traitors and said Washington's effort to topple Saddam's regime were bound to fail.
AFP