ABOUT TIME

L. Paul Bremer, head of the U.S.-led occupational authority in Iraq, today told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that mobile-phone licenses in the war-torn country are about to being issued.

Bremer’s remarks came in response to questioning by Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), who wanted to know why the three regional cellular licenses had yet to awarded in the September timetable set by the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Bremer replied that September was not over, then quickly added: “It will be [accomplished] in the next 10 days.”