Paul Bremer, the senior U.S. official in Iraq, states that despite the opposition from the Shiite leader, there will be no change to the set date (July 1) for restoring national sovereignty to Iraq. Ayatollah Ali Sistani opposes this plan because it does not include direct elections for the first Iraqi government after Saddam. Currently, the Bush administration hopes to gain the support of the majority of Iraq's Shiite population with the help of the United Nations. Ali Sistani is against selecting the government based on the agreement of regional councils in Iraq and insists that elections should be conducted directly, referring to the people's votes. U.S. officials claim that Iraq is not currently ready for direct elections, and decades of Saddam's rule have resulted in the absence of a reliable census or electoral lists that are essential for direct voting. Paul Bremer, after meeting with President Bush and other senior White House officials, told reporters that there is still much work to be done to clarify the details of the July 1 deadline. Mr. Bremer and the head of the interim Iraqi government council will travel to New York on Monday to discuss with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, and seek the organization's support for holding the first elections after Saddam. Adnan Pachachi, the head of the interim government council of Iraq, stated, 'The UN has extensive experience in organizing elections, selecting electoral commissions, and electoral laws, and their expertise can be utilized in drafting the new constitution.'
Paul Bremer: The U.S. Will Not Change the Date for Transferring Power to the Iraqi Government
Paul Bremer announced that the U.S. will stick to the July 1 deadline for transferring power to Iraq despite opposition from Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who demands direct elections. The Bush administration aims to secure support from Iraq's Shiite majority with UN assistance, as U.S. officials argue that Iraq is not ready for direct elections due to the legacy of Saddam's regime.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Paul Bremer announced that the U.S. will adhere to the July 1 deadline for transferring power to Iraq, despite opposition from Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who demands direct elections. The U.S. government argues that Iraq is not ready for such elections due to the legacy of Saddam Hussein's regime.
- The U.S. plans to transfer power to an interim Iraqi government by July 1.
- Ayatollah Sistani opposes the plan due to the lack of direct elections.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the country faced challenges in establishing a stable government, particularly in the context of sectarian divisions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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