Chalabi, a 57-year-old wealthy businessman formerly based in London, made the remarks in a press conference after returning Baghdad Wednesday evening.

Some people said although Chalabi has won popularity in Washington, especially from the Pentagon, his support remains fragile in Iraq, which he fled in 1958.

Chalabi told reporters that he had convinced the US administration not to appoint an American military ruler for Iraq to stay in power for a long term.

Answering a question about the defeat of former ruling Baath party members, Chalabi said a list of Baath party officials who will be on trial has been prepared, but no penalization will take place against other party members.

A number of Baath party members had helped his movement during and before the ongoing US-led war which topples the Saddam regime. Meanwhile, Mohammed Mohsin Alzobeidi, self-claimed chairman of the executive committee in charge of Baghdad, noted that over 20 committees have been formed in the capital to supervise different departments from financial, economic, social to security branches.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2003)