Cleric Wants Iraq Elections by Year's End

[Barrett808]

Cleric Wants Iraq Elections by Year's End
By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's most prominent Shiite Muslim cleric called Thursday for elections by the end of the year, signaling he would accept an interim government but insisting on a strict timeframe after the United States hands over power.

Washington believes elections cannot be held before the end of year and probably not before early 2005. However, the Shiite clergy, fearful that balloting might be delayed indefinitely, has insisted on elections as soon as possible.

In a statement issued by his office in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani demanded "clear guarantees, such as a Security Council resolution," to fix a date so "there is no more postponement and prolonging."

It was al-Sistani's first public comment on elections since U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan ruled out a vote by June 30, the date the United States plans to return sovereignty to Iraqis.

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