The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has welcomed the Iraqi Transitional Government's programme for a secure, democratic, federal and united Iraq, which was outlined in a speech by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ibrahim Ja'afari. In a statement on 31 May, Mr Straw said: 'Over the last two years we have worked hard, along with our international partners, to support the Iraqi people in their quest for a stable, democratic and inclusive Iraq, following decades of repression and dictatorship.' Mr Straw added that much remains to be done, but that Prime Minister Ja'afari's State of the Nation speech 'underlines the importance of the UN, the EU, NATO and the wider international community in supporting the Iraqi government in its efforts to bring about the changes and improvements that the Iraqi people desire and deserve.'
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Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Kim Howells, condemned the suicide attacks in Iraq, on Wednesday 11 May. Mr Howells said: 'Our thoughts go out to all the families and friends of those killed and injured in today's horrendous attacks on innocent Iraqis trying to go about their daily lives. These, and other recent tragic incidents, are the desperate acts of those seeking to destabilise the successful democratic political process reflected in the recently elected Transitional Government. We and the wider international community are determined to support the Transitional Government and the Transitional National Assembly'
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