No to America: Shi’ites

BASRA – Tens of thousands of Shi’ite Muslims shouting “No to America!” yesterday marched through this southern city to back their spiritual leader’s call for early elections, a stand that could stymie a US blueprint for transferring power to a new Iraqi administration.

The peaceful demonstration in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, followed a string of violent incidents across the country, including a car bombing in Baqouba and a series of clashes between US troops and insurgents that left 20 people dead. An estimated 20 000 to 30 000 Shi’ite Muslims turned out to support Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani’s demand that an interim legislature be elected directly and not chosen in provincial caucuses, as called for under the American plan.The massive demonstration for the most powerful cleric of Iraq’s majority Shi’ites showed that the United States cannot afford to take al-Sistani’s criticism of the transfer plans lightly.Under the current plan, the United States will transfer power by July 1 to a provisional Iraqi government to be created by a legislature chosen by provincial caucuses.The plan envisions a two-year political transition before full elections in 2005.US officials say al-Sistani’s demand for elections to choose members of the assembly are unreasonable because a credible election could not be conducted on such short notice due to the country’s precarious security situation.Iraqi leaders and US authorities hope a meeting in New York on Monday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will help resolve the impasse over al-Sistani’s objections.The question of legitimacy has dogged Iraqi politics since the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in April.The Governing Council is viewed by many Iraqis as a tool of US administrator Paul Bremer, who hand-picked its 25 members in July.Many council members are Saddam critics who spent many years outside Iraq before returning home.Troops found and defused a roadside bomb made up of 155 mm artillery shells, said British army Major Mike Elviss.The car bombing occurred Wednesday morning in the central town of Baqouba when a motorist tried to drive into the walled compound of a police station in the city 65 kilometres northeast of Baghdad.Police Colonel Salam Omar said guards opened fire after the driver ignored orders to stop.The driver then detonated the vehicle, killing himself and two others and wounding about 30 people, including police, Iraqi civil defense officers and civilian bystanders.In Khalas, central Iraq, a US Amy patrol fired at two Iraqis digging a hole, apparently to plant bombs, killing them both on Wednesday, Cargie said.US soldiers returned fire at two people who attacked them with automatic weapons, killing one and injuring the other, Cargie said.He said they were planting a homemade bomb.Elsewhere, two foreign civilian drivers were killed on Wednesday during an attack near Tikrit on a convoy operated by US contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root, said military spokeswoman Major Josslyn Aberle.- Nampa-APAn estimated 20 000 to 30 000 Shi’ite Muslims turned out to support Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani’s demand that an interim legislature be elected directly and not chosen in provincial caucuses, as called for under the American plan. The massive demonstration for the most powerful cleric of Iraq’s majority Shi’ites showed that the United States cannot afford to take al-Sistani’s criticism of the transfer plans lightly. Under the current plan, the United States will transfer power by July 1 to a provisional Iraqi government to be created by a legislature chosen by provincial caucuses. The plan envisions a two-year political transition before full elections in 2005. US officials say al-Sistani’s demand for elections to choose members of the assembly are unreasonable because a credible election could not be conducted on such short notice due to the country’s precarious security situation. Iraqi leaders and US authorities hope a meeting in New York on Monday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will help resolve the impasse over al-Sistani’s objections. The question of legitimacy has dogged Iraqi politics since the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in April. The Governing Council is viewed by many Iraqis as a tool of US administrator Paul Bremer, who hand-picked its 25 members in July. Many council members are Saddam critics who spent many years outside Iraq before returning home. Troops found and defused a roadside bomb made up of 155 mm artillery shells, said British army Major Mike Elviss. The car bombing occurred Wednesday morning in the central town of Baqouba when a motorist tried to drive into the walled compound of a police station in the city 65 kilometres northeast of Baghdad. Police Colonel Salam Omar said guards opened fire after the driver ignored orders to stop. The driver then detonated the vehicle, killing himself and two others and wounding about 30 people, including police, Iraqi civil defense officers and civilian bystanders. In Khalas, central Iraq, a US Amy patrol fired at two Iraqis digging a hole, apparently to plant bombs, killing them both on Wednesday, Cargie said. US soldiers returned fire at two people who attacked them with automatic weapons, killing one and injuring the other, Cargie said. He said they were planting a homemade bomb. Elsewhere, two foreign civilian drivers were killed on Wednesday during an attack near Tikrit on a convoy operated by US contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root, said military spokeswoman Major Josslyn Aberle. – Nampa-AP