Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 02/09/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / ELECTION (L)

NUMBER=2-312890

BYLINE= KERRY SHERIDAN

DATELINE= CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An Iraqi Shi'ite leader has given a United Nations envoy a plan for early elections. Kerry Sheridan has more from V-O-A's Middle East Bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: According to Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim -- who heads a Shi'ite political party -- the report shows elections can be held before the scheduled handover of power in June.

Mr. Al-Hakim -- who is also a member of the American-appointed Governing Council -- says a team of experts prepared the report, which he calls a scientific study.

Mr. Al-Hakim handed the report to the head of the U-N election team, Lakhdar Brahimi, late Sunday. Mr. Al-Hakim says Mr. Brahimi promised to study it.

Mr. Brahimi is leading a nine-member team of U-N officials who arrived in Baghdad Saturday to discuss the possibility of holding early elections.

The U-N envoy has cautioned against holding elections in Iraq, unless stability can first be achieved.

American officials prefer a system of caucuses for choosing an interim government, saying there is not enough time to organize a direct vote.

But Iraq's Shi'ite leaders -- including the influential cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani -- have rejected the American proposal and are pressing for direct elections to take place before June 30th.

The U-N team is expected to meet with Ayatollah Sistani, during its 10-day visit. After the U-N experts complete their fact-finding mission, they will issue recommendations to U-S and Iraqi authorities. (Signed)

NEB/KS/WD