Ayat Sistani demands elected legislature

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Iraq’s Ayatullah Ali Al-Husseini As-Sistani in a full-page newspaper advertisement on Monday has spoken out against the US-backed formula for transfer of power to the Iraqis.

The cleric reiterated his demand for the country's next legislature to be elected rather than chosen by regional committees as called for under a plan endorsed by the US-led coalition and the Iraqi Governing Council.

He said the current US plan to have regional caucuses select members of a provisional national assembly would give birth to an illegitimate Iraqi government.

The coalition has ruled out early general elections on grounds that Iraq's security situation is not stable.

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