Postwar Planning

The United States sponsored a gathering of Iraqi representatives Tuesday to begin shaping the postwar government. Although retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner has been named to head a U.S.-led interim administration in Iraq, a White House representative said the United States has no interest in ruling Iraq. U.S. officials invited the groups, including Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites from inside the country and others in exile, which picked their own representatives. Some Shiite Muslim groups boycotted the meeting and thousands protested nearby. The delegates released a 13-point statement after the meeting that stressed the need to work toward a democratic Iraq, and agreed to meet again in 10 days.