"We have to be able to operate freely, which in some ways infringes on what some would call full sovereignty," Powell said

WASHINGTON, April 27 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – U.S. Secretary of State Collin Powell maintained that the still-unidentified Iraqi government due to take over from the U.S.-led occupation authority on July 1, will have to give away some of its powers to occupation forces.

Powell told Reuters Monday, April 26, he hoped Iraqis would embrace whatever government emerges before elections can be held.

"I hope they will understand that in order for this government to get up and running - to be effective - some of its sovereignty will have to be given back, if I can put it that way, or limited by them".

"(Some) of that sovereignty they are going to allow us to exercise on their behalf and with their permission," Powell added. "It is not as if we are seizing anything away from them.

"It is with the understanding that they need our help and for us to provide that help we have to be able to operate freely, which in some ways infringes on what some would call full sovereignty".

Powell said he was sure that whatever new Iraqi government emerged, it would legitimize the presence of U.S.-led troops in Iraq.

He sought, however, to damp down the view, voiced by many analysts, that the massive 3000-employee U.S. Embassy in Baghdad under Washington’s former delegate to the U.N. John Negroponte will be the real government.

Dismissing a "viceroy" Negroponte jibe, Powell hoped any new government would "exercise more and more control over the ministries, over the priorities for reconstruction, over answering questions of their people".

"It is in our interest to have that happen."

He made it clear, however, it was essential the 135,000 troops who invaded and occupied Iraq without a U.N. mandate continue to operate under U.S. command.

Powell argued it would take time for the U.S.-led forces, which are facing challenges to their control in the cities of Fallujah and An-Najaf, to establish security and that the new government would need their help.

Exactly two weeks ago – Tuesday, April 13 - U.S. President George W. Bush reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transfer power back to the Iraqis by June 30, adding his administration was cooperating with the U.N. on the issue.

"We're working closely with the United Nations envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, and with Iraqis to determine the exact form of the government that will receive sovereignty on June 30th."

Apparently, that would not be the case, according to the top U.S. diplomat’s remarks.

Army Of Occupation

The current head of the U.S.-picked Iraqi Governing Council, Masud Barzani, accused the U.S. of behaving like "an army of occupation".

"If it were me, I wouldn't have allowed it to come to this by making earlier mistakes.

"I probably wouldn't have made the mistake of letting an army of liberation turn into an army of occupation," he told the Associated Press (AP).

The BBC correspondent in Washington reported Tuesday, April 27, "there is a danger that the new Iraqi government will be seen as a puppet of the American occupiers."

Washington placed much of its hopes for ultimately extricating itself from Iraq in the hands Brahimi.

Brahimi has proposed a caretaker government led by a prime minister, a president and two vice presidents take over until elections can be held by January.