US President George W. Bush said that "many challenges remain" in Iraq despite the appointment of a new government because of the strength of resistance.
"The naming of the new interim government brings us one step closer to realizing the dream of millions of Iraqis, a fully sovereign nation with a representative government that protects their rights and serves their needs," Bush said at the White House.
But he added: "Many challenges remain" in the runup to the June 30 transfer of power and beyond because of the threat from insurgents who have stepped up their campaign against the US-led occupation."
"Today's violence underscores that freedom in Iraq is opposed by violent men who seek the failure not only of this interim government but of all progress toward liberty," the US leader stated.
He added: "I believe there will be more violence because there's still violent people who want to stop progress. Their strategy hasn't changed. They want to kill innocent lives to shake our will and to discourage the people inside Iraq.
"That's what they want to do. And they're not going to shake our will."
Bush insisted he had no role in selecting the new Iraqi leaders.
"I had no role. I mean, occasionally somebody said: 'This person may be interested' or that, but I had no role in picking -- zero."
Bush added: "Now, it's going to be up to the leaders to prove their worth to the Iraqi citizens. "In other words, the leaders are going to have to show the Iraqis that they're independent, smart, capable, nationalistic and believe in the future of Iraq. And our job is to work with them." (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
