In the first admission by an Iraqi official that US-led forces have seized control of Baghdad, the country's ambassador to the United Nations said, "The game is over" and hoped Iraqis would have a peaceful life.
"The game is over. My work now is peace," Mohammed Al-Douri told reporters outside his New York residence on Wednesday when his reaction was sought on jubilant scenes witnessed in parts of Baghdad as the US-led forces moved in.
Asked what he meant by 'game', he said replied, "War."
Al-Douri, who presented his government's case vigorously during the days leading up to the war, said he had not been able to contact his government for a long time and added that he was getting news from television.
Al-Douri's remarks during his address to the UN Security Council about two weeks ago had angered US Ambassador John Negroponte so much that he along with his delegation had walked out of the Council.
Meanwhile, Arab nations decided to withdraw a request for a UN General Assembly meeting on the war on Iraq.
The Arab group's chairman and Yemen's UN ambassador Abdullah Alsaidi had on Wednesday said the group could make another request for a meeting at an 'appropriate time'.
Several Arab ambassadors expressed surprise by the sudden advance of the US forces into Baghdad and the rejoicing on its streets as they were expecting strong resistance from Saddam's elite Republican Guards.
PTI