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Ominous signs for US in Iraq

2004-01-14 09:12
line

Baghdad - The goodwill of Iraq's Shi'ite majority, so crucial to the success of US policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shi'ite cleric to key parts of a US political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shi'ite areas suggest a dangerous trend.

The US-led coalition, which has already dropped one political plan for Iraq in the face of opposition by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, sought to downplay the significance of the cleric's latest objections, saying they were part of a healthy democratic climate in which political and religious leaders freely express their views.

Paul Bremer, chief US administrator in Iraq, said that implementation of a transition agreement remained on track and insisted the differences with al-Sistani were only "technical".

Bremer said the use of local caucuses to pick members of a transitional National Assembly - the method denounced by al-Sistani - "is not as good as an election". But, he said, "There are none of the things that you need to conduct a legitimate and effective election here."

Democracy is already afoot

"We've had over 600 meetings across the country," Bremer said. "Democracy is already afoot in this country and we're going to do a lot to encourage more of it."

Bremer said he has "great respect" for al-Sistani, calling him "a great leader".

Al-Sistani, who refuses to meet Bremer, has demanded the provisional assembly - which will pick an interim government - be chosen by national elections.

He also said the elected assembly should ratify the "basic law" - or interim constitution - being drafted by the Iraqi Governing Council and approve security accords governing the continued presence of US-led troops in Iraq beyond July 1.

That is the designated day for the occupation's formal end and the coming to office of a sovereign Iraqi government, under the plan approved by the US-appointed Governing Council on November 13.

US officials say lengthy preparations are needed for any credible election and some members of the Governing Council believe a direct vote held prematurely may not ensure the participation of five million Iraqis living abroad.

Under the November plan, Iraqis will go to the polls twice - early next year to elect delegates to draft a permanent constitution and again before the end of 2005 to elect a government. The provisional assembly that's to select a sovereign government by July 1 will be chosen in caucuses held in Iraq's 18 provinces.

"The ideal mechanism is an election, which many experts believe is possible to hold within the next months with an acceptable level of transparency and credibility," al-Sistani said on Sunday.

Many Iraqi Shi'ites say they still feel betrayed by the United States for not coming to their aid when they rose in 1991 against Saddam, whose army killed tens of thousands of them. They say they would take up arms against the Americans if clerics like al-Sistani so order.

- AP

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