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U.N. Team Indicating Elections in Iraq Could be Delayed

Aired February 13, 2004 - 05:06   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: A U.N. team is indicating that elections in Iraq could be delayed. This against the backdrop of more violence there.
Let's take you live now to Baghdad and our bureau chief Jane Arraf -- hello, Jane.

What's the latest?

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Catherine.

Well, this U.N. team that has come here to break this deadlock over whether elections can be held is saying pretty clearly it's unlikely before June 30. Now, the big question has been how the U.S. can hand over power back to the Iraqis. They have called for a series of caucus style, indirect elections. But a main Shia cleric here has had sent tens of thousands of people in the streets recently, calling for direct elections by June 30.

Now, the chief U.N. envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, has told us diplomatically that he's trying to get the message across that early elections might not be possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: You've now reached almost the end of your visit, seen a lot of Iraqis from every different group.

What are they telling you that they want?

LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY: I think we were pointing out to them that perhaps their evaluation of the time that is needed and the conditions that need to be procured are not accurate. And they are listening to us. I think they want to support from the United Nations. They think that the United Nations has a role to play in helping them understand, you know, these problems and also in working out compromises and consensus on all (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, that compromise will likely mean elections up to a year away. And one of the big problems, of course, is security. There's still ongoing violence on almost a daily basis. Just last night, one U.S. military police officer was killed and two wounded by a roadside bomb here in Baghdad. That followed a dramatic and daring attack on the U.S. commander of -- commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, General John Abizaid. He was visiting Falluja, west of Baghdad, when his convoy was attacked by rocket propelled grenades fired from a nearby rooftop. Now, a dramatic illustration as to how this country is still far from settled -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, Jane, thank you very much.

That's Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this morning.

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 February 13, 2004 - 05:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: A U.N. team is indicating that elections in Iraq could be delayed. This against the backdrop of more violence there.
Let's take you live now to Baghdad and our bureau chief Jane Arraf -- hello, Jane.

What's the latest?

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Catherine.

Well, this U.N. team that has come here to break this deadlock over whether elections can be held is saying pretty clearly it's unlikely before June 30. Now, the big question has been how the U.S. can hand over power back to the Iraqis. They have called for a series of caucus style, indirect elections. But a main Shia cleric here has had sent tens of thousands of people in the streets recently, calling for direct elections by June 30.

Now, the chief U.N. envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, has told us diplomatically that he's trying to get the message across that early elections might not be possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: You've now reached almost the end of your visit, seen a lot of Iraqis from every different group.

What are they telling you that they want?

LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY: I think we were pointing out to them that perhaps their evaluation of the time that is needed and the conditions that need to be procured are not accurate. And they are listening to us. I think they want to support from the United Nations. They think that the United Nations has a role to play in helping them understand, you know, these problems and also in working out compromises and consensus on all (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, that compromise will likely mean elections up to a year away. And one of the big problems, of course, is security. There's still ongoing violence on almost a daily basis. Just last night, one U.S. military police officer was killed and two wounded by a roadside bomb here in Baghdad. That followed a dramatic and daring attack on the U.S. commander of -- commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, General John Abizaid. He was visiting Falluja, west of Baghdad, when his convoy was attacked by rocket propelled grenades fired from a nearby rooftop. Now, a dramatic illustration as to how this country is still far from settled -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, Jane, thank you very much.

That's Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this morning.

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