Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/16/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ SITREP (L)

NUMBER=2-315119

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTRO: An American diplomat in Iraq has held a rare face-to-face meeting with an Iranian official seeking to mediate an end to an uprising by Shiite fighters led by a rebel cleric. The meeting came as the leaders of the United States and Britain vow not to let the upsurge in violence derail plans for handing over political power on June 30th. Correspondent Nick Simeone brings us the latest.

TEXT: //// NAT SOUND OF SADR FOLLOWERS ///

Demonstrations Friday in Iraq's Shiite holy city, Najaf, by disciples of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Najaf remains surrounded by 25-hundred U-S troops who are threatening to move on the city -- risking widespread anger by Iraq's majority Shiite community -- if negotiations with the cleric fail to end a two-week uprising by his followers who oppose the U-S led occupation.

Efforts to end the standoff have put the United States in rare, direct contact with Iran. Coalition spokesman Dan Senor told reporters the Iranian government asked for and got a meeting with an American diplomat posted in Baghdad, but the Tehran government was told not to intervene in the standoff.

/// SENOR ACT ///

We had a firm message for the Iranians across the board with regard to their role in Iraq, which is to be constructive, not destructive. There is no role for the Iranians, from our perspective, in the Sadr situation and in fact we believe that the issue with Sadr and his militia should be resolved by Iraqis.

/// END ACT ///

/// ACT OF AL-SADR IN ARABIC ///

As he addressed his followers Friday, Moqtada al-Sadr warned coalition forces of the consequences of a confrontation and denounced plans for the country's political transition, saying sovereignty can only be restored through a popular vote.

But after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Bush vowed to finish the job in Iraq, telling reporters at the White House the coalition will not waver in the face of fear and intimidation.

/// BUSH ACT ///

And that's why when we say something in Iraq, we're going to do it because we want there to be a free society.

/// END ACT ///

He and Prime Minister Blair endorsed a tentative plan outlined by U-N envoy Lakhdar Brahimi for a transfer of power after June 30th.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

The idea will be to have a broad-based government and then next year to move to a new constitution and then finally to democratic elections.

/// END ACT ///

But that plan must still be put to a vote in the U-N Security Council, and the United Nations is warning the tentative steps for how Iraq will be governed after June 30th could be jeopardized if the current level of violence continues. (SIGNED)

NEB/NJS/KBK/KL