Powell says US has much to do in Iraq after handover

The US mission in Iraq will not end after the handover of power on June 30 and there is still much left to do, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday.

"Our mission in Iraq does not end next week, there is much left to do," Powell said at the swearing-in ceremony of John Negroponte as US ambassador to Iraq at the State Department.

"But Iraqis themselves will now take over responsibilities for their own future. It is up to the Iraqis to decide on their constitution and their election. It is now up to the Iraqis to do business with the rest of the world and to conduct relations with other states ... It is up to the Iraqis to decide what support they want from us," Powell said.

Powell warned that the United States and the Iraqi interim government may have differences "but that is normal."

"Ambassador Negroponte will guide our cooperation and will smooth out any differences that may arise," Powell said.

Source: Xinhua