Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi Transitional Governing Council are very close to completing Iraq's temporary constitution. Mr. Powell announced in Washington on Thursday that the parties are working hard to draft the so-called 'administrative' law for Iraq. However, the U.S. Secretary of State did not specify whether the completion of the temporary constitution would be finished by the set deadline of February 28. According to the U.S. plan, the temporary constitution should be in effect from the end of June until the preparation and approval of a permanent constitution in 2005. In another event, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the leader of Iraqi Shiites, announced that he wants the United Nations to guarantee that elections for establishing an independent and sovereign government in Iraq will be held by the end of this year.
Colin Powell: The Completion Stage of Iraq's Temporary Constitution is Very Close - 2004-02-27
Colin Powell announced that the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi Transitional Governing Council are nearing completion of Iraq's temporary constitution. The completion deadline is set for February 28, but it remains uncertain if it will be met. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani is seeking UN guarantees for elections to establish a sovereign government in Iraq by the end of the year.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Colin Powell announced that the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi Transitional Governing Council are close to finalizing Iraq's temporary constitution, although the completion by the February 28 deadline is uncertain. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani is advocating for UN guarantees for elections to establish a sovereign government by the end of the year.
- The temporary constitution is intended to be in effect until a permanent constitution is approved in 2005.
- Sistani's push for UN involvement highlights concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country faced significant challenges in establishing a stable government, with various factions vying for power. The transitional constitution was a step towards creating a framework for governance.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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