February 20 2004 at 11:27AM
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Baghdad - Iraqi politicians said on Friday they would await formal notification of the United Nations' decision recommending against early elections before deciding how best to form a new government to take power from the United States-led occupying force after June 30.
The Iraqi National Congress (INC), whose Shia Muslim leader Ahmad Chalabi is a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, said elections were still possible before June 30 and dismissed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's finding that an early ballot was not feasible as nonbinding.
"We say that we have ample amount of data and evidence and information and experts in Iraq who are telling us that elections are possible before June 30th," INC spokesperson Entifadh Qanbar said on Friday.
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"We also said before the UN delegation came to Baghdad that we are not obligated to their opinion. This is after all an Iraqi issue and we must solve it ourselves and we will take them as adviser."
| 'Elections cannot be held before the end of June' |
"Elections are a must, but it is impossible right now," said Nasser al-Chadechi, a Sunni Arab council member. "Now, we have many options to look at with the UN and the Iraqi people."
Mahmoud Othman, a Sunni Kurd, said Annan's decision was "realistic and expected."
"We are waiting for the official UN statement regarding any other alternatives, then, we will discuss them as a Governing Council with the coalition authorities in order to take the right step that will lead to a solution that would be practical and acceptable," Mahmoud Othman said.
The US, which also opposed an early election, wants an expanded Governing Council to take control of the country at the end of June and had hoped Annan would share the US opinion that early elections were impossible.
| Opinions appeared divided on the streets of Baghdad |
Annan did not give any recommendations on how to pick a provisional government. He said the UN will work with the Iraqis to choose a way that has the broadest possible support.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said Annan's top adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, indicated he will return to Iraq to help the Iraqis work out the best way. But Annan refused to say whether he would send Brahimi back, telling reporters "we will stay involved."
After Brahimi, briefed representatives of 45 nations and the European Union on his weeklong visit to Iraq, Annan told reporters an early vote was not feasible.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, the country's most prominent Shia cleric, had demanded early elections to choose a new legislature, which in turn would select a new government.
Al-Sistani's opposition derailed a US plan to choose the legislators in regional caucuses, which many Shia people feared would allow the Americans to manipulate the process. Most Governing Council members no longer back the caucus formula.
Shia members are believed to form about 60 percent of the country's 25 million people, and their acceptance of a formula is critical if the new Iraqi government hopes to win legitimacy among the population.
Opinions appeared divided on the streets of Baghdad.
"There is no difference of opinion between Arabs and Kurds, Sunni or Shias we are all Iraqis," said Farouk Rafiq. "What we want is general elections before the June 30th handover."
However, another resident, Salim Ali, said he was willing to accept elections after June 30 if they were "fair and representative of all Iraqi ethnic groups."
In Germany, the online service of Der Spiegel magazine published on Friday what it said was an interview with al-Sistani, in which he called on the UN Security Council to oversee the transition to Iraqi rule and guarantee a date for elections as soon as possible. Al-Sistani does not ordinarily grant interviews, but his office does respond to written questions.
Al-Sistani said the Security Council should adopt a resolution containing guarantees that there be "no further postponement of the election."
Meanwhile, the Americans insist they will not slide back the June 30 power transfer date.
"There are 133 days before sovereignty returns to an Iraqi government on June 30th," US administrator Paul Bremer said on Thursday.
"Changes in the mechanism performing an interim government are possible but the date holds."
The United States is under pressure from its Iraqi partners and international allies to yield power and end the military occupation as soon as possible. It is also eager to establish a working government and give Iraqi security forces a frontline role against guerrilla violence well ahead of November presidential elections.
On Thursday, insurgents killed two American soldiers, an Iraqi police officer and an Iraqi translator in a roadside bombing near Khaldiyah, 80km west of the capital, the US command said.
The deaths brought to 545 the number of American service members who have died since the invasion on started on March 20. - Sapa-AP
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