U.N. Chief Backs U.S. On Iraq Vote

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, backing the U.S. position, said Thursday that elections cannot be held in Iraq before the June 30th transfer of power to Iraqis. But Annan was not expected to address another key question: what form of government to erect to accept that power.

Annan said, however, the June 30 date for the U.S.-led coalition to restore sovereignty to Iraq must be respected.

The United States had planned to hold 18 regional caucuses throughout Iraq to select members of a new legislature, which would in turn name a government to take power July 1. However, the Shiite demands and growing opposition among Iraqi leaders to the caucus idea has thrown that plan into doubt.

Iraqi officials are divided over the issue, with some — led by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani — pushing for early elections and others proposing a national conference to select a leadership.

The U.S. has said that a lack of an accurate census and other logistical problems make an early election impossible. U.S. officials are also worried that in the confusion of a rushed vote, radical Islamic candidates, or even former Baath party members, might win.

Annan and his special adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, spoke to reporters after a 90-minute meeting with representatives of 45 nations and the European Union where Brahimi gave a briefing on his weeklong visit to Iraq.

"We shared with them our sense, and the emerging consensus, or understanding that elections cannot be held before the end of June, that the June 30 date for the hand-over of sovereignty must be respected, and that we need to find a mechanism to create a caretaker government and then prepare the elections later, sometime later in the future," Annan said.

The Bush administration hopes Annan also endorses the idea of extending and expanding the U.S.-picked Iraqi Governing Council so it can take interim control of the country on July 1.

But until he consults with other governments, Annan is unlikely to back any alternative plan.

Earlier on Thursday, U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer said that the formula for establishing a new Iraqi government could be changed but the date for the U.S.-led coalition to hand over power remains firm.

"Changes are possible but the date holds," Bremer told reporters, adding that there were "dozens" of methods for selecting a new government. Among the options, he said, were a redesigned "caucus" system or partial elections.

"There are literally dozens of ways to carry out this complicated task," he said. "I invite your attention to how complicated it is."

The Bush administration wants to end the occupation well ahead of the November presidential election in the United States to minimize Iraq as a campaign issue.

President Bush, in an interview Wednesday with the Middle East Television Network, said, "We just must all work together to come up with an Iraqi solution as to how best to get a constitution and then direct elections."

Whatever the timetable and process for a return of sovereignty, Mr. Bush said he's generally heartened by the response of various elements of Iraqi society.

"It looks like there are some sharp elbows," he said. "But I am encouraged by what is taking place in Iraq. I appreciate so very much the fact that the Shiias speak out for freedom. I appreciate the fact that the Sunnis are questioning whether or not they have a role in the future of their country. I appreciate that the Kurds are active."

The Bush administration's increasing reliance on the United Nations to help solve disputes over Iraq's political future is an ironic turn of events for an administration that worked hard to keep the U.N. in the background.

"With support from the secretary general to delay elections, Washington made a diplomatic stride by bringing the U.N. into the process," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk

Secretary of State Colin Powell said again on Wednesday he was keeping an open mind about possible U.N. proposals.

"We are waiting to see whether or not the U.N. has better ideas than the caucus system," Powell said on Cox Broadcasting. "If they do have better ideas we will certainly consider them."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher was even more blunt Wednesday about the key role now played by the United Nations. "We haven't just made the trip to Iraq," Boucher said. "We haven't talked to all the Iraqi people."

If the U.S. revises its postwar plan in the face of Shiite objections, it will be the second time.

A blueprint outlined last year called for Iraqis to draft a new constitution and elect a new government before the return of power. After al-Sistani insisted that the constitution be drafted by elected representatives, the caucus plan was proposed.

Addressing another dispute over Iraq's political future, Bremer said Iraq's new law must be based on secular democratic principles.

Bremer, who can approve or veto Iraqi laws, has said he would not allow the Council to adopt a basic law or constitution that was based upon Islamic law.

"We have an obligation as the sovereign power that an appropriate democratic structure is put in place here while we are here so that we can deliver to the Iraqis what they want, which is a democratic, unified, stable country at peace with itself," Bremer said.

He said Iraq needs "a transitional law which will respect fundamental rights, including the fundamental right to freedom of religion while recognizing the Islamic nature of Islamic society.

Meanwhile, the top U.S. military officer said Thursday he could not estimate with confidence how long American forces will have to stay in Iraq.

For planning purposes, the Army is assuming it will have to keep roughly 100,000 troops in Iraq for at least another two years, other officials have said.

Al-Sistani's has also objected to how an interim government would authorize U.S. troops remaining in the country after July 1.