Baghdad (AsiaNews) Paul Bremer, Iraq's civil governor, arrived today in Washington where he will met with President George Bush. Up for discussion is the Iraq situation and the results of meetings with internal factions. The greatest concern is still the issue raised by Shiites: that is, Shiite ayatollah Al-Sistani's insistence that general elections be organized prior to any transition of power.
The US plan is to create a temporary government, chosen by non-elected bodies, to which power will be tuned over by the end of June. This Iraqi government will be in charge of the elections which will take place no earlier than July. Al- Sistani believes that this procedure goes against democracy and wants elections before any transition occurs.
Yesterday in Bassorah, 60,000 persons rallied to show their support for the Shiite religious leader, shouting in Arabic: " No to co-optation; yes, to Al-Sistani!" while one sign in English read: "We want a constitution written by elected Iraqis" .
Al-Sistani's representative in Kuwait, Mohamad Baker Al-Mahri, gave an interview on Arab TV in Abu Dhabi in which he said that Ayatollah "Al-Sistani is ready to issue a Fatwa against a political organization imposed by foreign powers." Yesterday's rally, as seen in his ability to mobilize the masses, is a clear message to the coalition not to take Shiite threats lightly.
Many observers hold that Al-Sistani is the only person in Iraq capable of creating a revolt and leading a "war of liberation".
On another fronts, Kurds have requested the creation of a confederation in Iraq, which was rejected by Arabs, Christians (Chaldeans, Assyrians, Armenians) and by Turkmenis. Sunnis, who had gathered in Baghdad for a conference, expressed their fears about the country being divided up and asked to have a more relevant role in decisions concerning Iraq's future.
Moreover, Adnan Al Bagehgi, current president of the Provisional Governing Council, went to New York where on Monday he will meet with UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. The meeting, which Bremer is also expected to attend, will take up the issue of entrusting Iraq to the United Nations. (PB)