Iraq’s governing council has reacted with fury after police backed by American soldiers raided the home and offices of Ahmad Chalabi, a prominent politician once groomed by the Pentagon as a possible replacement for Saddam Hussein.

THE spiritual guide of Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim majority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, yesterday called the country’s new transitional law an obstacle to a permanent constitution.

The 25 members of Iraq’s Governing Council unanimously approved a landmark interim constitution today at a meeting ahead of a signing ceremony.

One person was wounded when at least 10 rockets detonated in central Baghdad, near an area that houses the headquarters of the US-led coalition.