Top Shiite Cleric Hardens Hardens Call for Early Iraqi Vote

[kskiska]

Sistani Reiterates Opposition to U.S. Plan

BAGHDAD, Jan. 11 -- Iraq's most influential Shiite Muslim cleric hardened his opposition on Sunday to U.S. plans for ceding control of Iraq to a transitional government, repeating his call for early elections and raising the specter of violence if his demand was not met.

The cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, rebuffed delegates from the U.S.-appointed Governing Council who visited the holy city of Najaf in an effort to convince him that regional caucuses should choose a new assembly. The assembly would in turn choose a transitional government. The U.S.-backed plan would culminate in a new ratified constitution and a new elected government by the end of 2005.

Sistani insisted, as he has since November, on direct elections this year that would give the country's majority Shiite population a chance to flex its electoral muscle.

"The planned transitional assembly cannot represent the Iraqis in an ideal manner," Sistani said in statement issued by his office. "New problems will arise as a result of this that will only worsen the tensions in the political and security situation.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8436-2004Jan11.html