BAGHDAD, April 16: Pro-American Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi returned to Baghdad on Wednesday on his first visit to the city since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958, an adviser said.

“Our plans are to establish ourselves here, to set up an office and begin the work towards reconstructing democracy and civil society in Iraq,” said Zaab Sethna, who travelled with Chalabi in the motorcade from the southern town of Nassiriya.

“His first plan is to go see his old home and then start building democracy in Iraq,” added Sethna, speaking by satellite telephone.

Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress, was the first major exile politician to reach Baghdad since the collapse of the government of Saddam Hussein last week. Sethna said Chalabi would soon start meeting Iraqis including community leaders, religious leaders and businessmen.—Reuters