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Mission: Iraq: Top Muslim Cleric Steps Up Opposition

Aired January 12, 2004 - 10:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to the mission in Iraq, or maybe more accurately, the missions, plural, as the coalition works to establish a democracy through regional caucuses, one of the country's top Muslim clerics is stepping up his opposition in a nonviolent way. His message, though, appeared in print today in a full-page ad. Let's go to Baghdad, and CNN's Satinder Bindra to tell us more -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And good morning. A very important religious figure this Ayatollah Ali al- Sistani (ph), who he took out a full page ad in one of the newspapers today. He continues to oppose U.S. plans to hold indirect, or caucus- style elections. Of course, these elections will pick an assembly, and this assembly will appoint a provisional government.

Now the Ayatollah says he wants direct election because he believes that will benefit some 15 to 16 million Iraqis who are Shiites, and he represents these Shiites. The United States is opposed to direct elections, but still, the U.S. administrator here, Paul Bremer, saying there is still room for some compromise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BREMER, U.S. CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR: We have said all along that we think the -- it is important to implement the November 15th agreement, which was agreed by the Governing Council, and has been submitted to the United Nations as the best way forward for the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, and to provide for elections in about a year now to a constituent assembly. The governing council is in discussions with the Grand Ayatollah for whom we have the greatest respect, and I think it's probably best if I leave those discussions between the governing council and the Ayatollah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BINDRA: Daryn, now these political discussions will continue on January 19th. That's when coalition authority authorities, the Iraqi Governing Council, and, of course, the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, will meet in New York to discuss this further.

Back to you now.

KAGAN: Satinder Bindra in Baghdad thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 12, 2004 - 10:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to the mission in Iraq, or maybe more accurately, the missions, plural, as the coalition works to establish a democracy through regional caucuses, one of the country's top Muslim clerics is stepping up his opposition in a nonviolent way. His message, though, appeared in print today in a full-page ad. Let's go to Baghdad, and CNN's Satinder Bindra to tell us more -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And good morning. A very important religious figure this Ayatollah Ali al- Sistani (ph), who he took out a full page ad in one of the newspapers today. He continues to oppose U.S. plans to hold indirect, or caucus- style elections. Of course, these elections will pick an assembly, and this assembly will appoint a provisional government.

Now the Ayatollah says he wants direct election because he believes that will benefit some 15 to 16 million Iraqis who are Shiites, and he represents these Shiites. The United States is opposed to direct elections, but still, the U.S. administrator here, Paul Bremer, saying there is still room for some compromise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BREMER, U.S. CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR: We have said all along that we think the -- it is important to implement the November 15th agreement, which was agreed by the Governing Council, and has been submitted to the United Nations as the best way forward for the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, and to provide for elections in about a year now to a constituent assembly. The governing council is in discussions with the Grand Ayatollah for whom we have the greatest respect, and I think it's probably best if I leave those discussions between the governing council and the Ayatollah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BINDRA: Daryn, now these political discussions will continue on January 19th. That's when coalition authority authorities, the Iraqi Governing Council, and, of course, the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, will meet in New York to discuss this further.

Back to you now.

KAGAN: Satinder Bindra in Baghdad thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com