BAGHDAD, April 21: The new US administration of Iraq, led by Jay Garner, on Monday dismissed the claims of the two men who have appointed themselves as the new leaders in the Iraqi capital.

“There are a lot of de facto leaders. I don’t know who they are but our goal is to start a process whereby the Iraqi people elect their own leaders,” said Garner, who arrived early Monday in Baghdad.

Mohammed Mohsen Zubeidi, a long-time opponent of ousted president Saddam Hussein, last week announced he was the new “governor” of Baghdad, with Jawdat al-Obeidi as his deputy.

He had earlier claimed he was the head of the new Baghdad government and that Mr Obeidi was now mayor of the Iraqi capital.

Asked about Zubeidi, Barbara Bodine — the new coordinator for central Iraq — said: “We don’t really know much about him except that he’s declared himself mayor. We don’t recognise him.—AFP