Iraqis demonstrate for direct election

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 16, 2004

Iraqis demonstrate for direct election

Tens of thousands of Iraqis Thursday rallied in the southern city of Basra in support of the top Shiite cleric's stance on holding direct elections before power is handed over.

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Tens of thousands of Iraqis Thursday rallied in the southern city of Basra in support of the top Shiite cleric's stance on holding direct elections before power is handed over.

Demonstrators waved pictures of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential leader in Iraq's Shiite Muslims.

The Shiite cleric disagreed with the US-proposed plan. He asks to hold a general election before the power transfer while the US occupation forces insist on handing over power to a transitional government formed by a selected council.

US officials and IGC members, who have struggled to reach consensus, are now counting on a meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan next Monday to settle the dispute.

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