Bremer updates members of Iraq's Governing Council regarding Washington plans as two US soldiers die

Chief U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer on Saturday presented Iraq's Governing Council with Bush administration's new policy proposals aimed at speeding up Iraq's sovereignty, officials said.  

Bremer met with the council as the military reported that a soldier was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb, becoming the 400th U.S. serviceman to die since Iraq was attacked in March.  

Senior Bush administration officials told The Associated Press that the proposed changes include holding elections in the first half of 2004 and forming a new government before a constitution is written.  

Previously, the Bush administration has insisted that a new charter be written and adopted before general elections are held, a process that was likely to last at least another year.  

Bremer met in Baghdad Friday with Jalal Talabani, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council, to discuss Washington's new policy proposals regarding a return of Iraqi sovereignty, said Mahmoud Othman, a member of the 24-seat body.  

The American soldier who was killed Saturday was traveling in a two-vehicle patrol. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast, a military spokesman said.  

On Friday, a 1st Armored Division soldier was killed in a roadside bombing in central Baghdad, the military said. Two other soldiers were wounded. (Albawaba.com) 

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)