Saddam's foes unite

SHAQLAWA (AFP) - Iraqi opposition officials say they have reached broad agreement on a common platform in talks in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

An announcement by representatives of 30 Kurdish, Shia Muslim, pan-Arab, Communist, Turkoman and independent groups was expected late last night. In talks at the weekend they agreed to form an executive committee of between 21 and 25 people, a 174- strong assembly and a three-man presidential group.

The assembly would be made up half and half of delegates who attended an opposition conference in Vienna in June and Shia groups that boycotted it because they were reluctant to deal with Kurds and the secular groups. The presidential group is expected to comprise a Shia, a Sunni Muslim and a Kurd.