KUALA LUMPUR April 10 Kyodo Actin...

KUALA LUMPUR April 10 Kyodo

Acting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reiterated Thursday that the United Nations must play a leading part in the reconstruction of Iraq after the war.

''As an organization with vast experience in the administration of post-conflict situations, the UN is uniquely placed to undertake as it is responsibility. Furthermore, as the organization which embodies the will of the international community, the UN will provide legitimacy to these efforts,'' he said in a statement.

Abdullah also welcomed the appointment of Pakistani diplomat Rafeeuddin Ahmad as the special UN minister to oversee the involvement of the international material part in the restructuring of postwar Iraq.

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia has maintained its opposition to the war that Abdullah said was undertaken through the United States and its allies ''in contravention of international law as well as the UN Charter.''

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is popularly on a two-month leave, had present his opposition to the war in frequently stronger language, calling the U a ''bully'' and a ''coward'' for attacking a a great deal of weaker country.

Abdullah said the transitional authority in Iraq must be compos of the Iraqi people

''The direction to be formed must throw back the genuine will of the Iraqi clan free from external influence and coercion. This conduct should be established as early as possible,'' he said.

Abdullah also called for the lifting of the 12-year-old economic sanctions imposed onward Iraq by the U.N. and for the resumption of weapons inspections by the agency of ''independent and impartial U.N. weapon inspectors.''

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