Interim law an ‘obstacle to Iraq constitution’

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.

Iraq's Governing Council signed the landmark document, a key step in US plans to hand over power to the Iraqis by July 1.

The 25 council members signed the document before an audience of prominent Iraqi and American civilian and military officials, including the top administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer.

But Ayatollah Al-Sistani said the law would hinder Iraq's return to democracy.

"It sets obstacles in the way of reaching a permanent constitution for the country," he said.

"Any law drafted for the transitional period will lack legitimacy unless it is ratified by an elected national assembly."

Security forces have been on high alert for possible guerrilla attacks aimed at disrupting the signing ceremony.

Even as it was being signed, guerrillas fired mortars at a Baghdad police station, wounding two policemen and three civilians.

A projectile also hit a nearby house, smashing windows and blowing a hole in a wall but causing no casualties, witnesses said.

In the late afternoon, a blast echoed across the city centre, rattling windows. A US Army spokesman said he had no information on whether the blast was controlled. An explosion earlier in the afternoon had been a controlled detonation of seized explosives, the army said.

President of the Governing Council Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum called the signing a "historic moment, decisive in the history of Iraq".

"There is no doubt that this document will strengthen Iraqi unity in a way never seen before," said Massoud Barzani, a Kurdish leader on the council. "This is the first time that we Kurds feel that we are citizens of Iraq."

But there were signs that a dispute that delayed plans to sign the constitution on Friday might surface again.

Several Shi'ite council members said a clause that was in dispute, which would give Kurds more power, will be subject to further negotiations.

The signing came nine days after a deadline set in a US timetable. The delay was caused by a mourning period following bomb attacks on Shi'ite shrines, as well as political wrangling on the US-picked council. The impasse strained relations between Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish leaders and highlighted the power of Iraq's Shi'ite clergy.

The charter enshrines Islam as one of the bases of law and outlines the shape of a parliament and presidency as well as a federal structure for the country. It will remain in effect until a permanent constitution is approved by a national referendum planned for late 2005.

Iraqi and US officials still have to agree on a method to create the government that will take power on June 30 and serve until national elections due by January 31 a task that is likely to require assistance from the United Nations.

The constitution has been hailed as one of the most progressive in the Middle East, guaranteeing individual freedoms.

Britain called the signing clear proof that Iraqis want democracy despite unrelenting insurgent attacks.

"This is the clearest demonstration to date of the strong desire to build a free, stable and democratic society in Iraq," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.