A U.S.-backed plan to give Iraqis sovereignty over their country again quickly appeared to be unraveling Thursday as a leading politician backed complaints by Shiite authorities that the process was not democratic enough.
Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi Governing Council's president, said he agreed with the criticism of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's leading Shiite cleric, and expected revisions in the plansnip
Al-Sistani's grievances are seen as a serious setback for the U.S.-led rebuilding effort. Renegotiating a deal could delay the handing over of sovereignty, jeopardize efforts to diminish the U.S. military presence in Iraq and undercut the White House's insistence that it is in control of the situation.
Plans for a U.S.-financed media campaign to promote the agreement have been put on hold, said coalition officials.
Coalition officials and the Iraqis insist that they do not want a confrontation, but the situation puts two of the most powerful people in Iraq at odds: al-Sistani and Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator overseeing the reconstruction.this seems a very important, and completely ignored story, that, if things continue along the lines seemingly generated by the LEADING Shiite (putatively pro Boo-sh), look for this to complicate things greatly for the PNACkers in charge
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0311280264nov28,1,6521402.story?coll=chi-printnews-hed
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