Talk on federation and election requirements in Iraq

Kurdish member in the Iraqi governing council, Dara Nour Eddine, announced the consent of the council to the confederation principle. He stressed that the constituent Iraqi law will state this, prior to the organization of the elections expected by the end of 2005.

Nour Eddine explained that according to the constituent which will be adopted in March this year, Kurds in northern Iraq will enjoy the current position.

He indicated that the possibility of expanding the self rule to the three Kurdish districts will be discussed following the drawing of the constitution, and the elections. He considered that it is the right of the Kurds to make further demands at that time beyond what the constituent law provides.

This, however, comes following a series of talks held by the two Kurdish leaders, Masoud al-Barazani and Jalal al-Talibani with four Arabs, members of the Governing Council on Thursday evening and Friday morning in Salah Eddine concerning the idea of an Iraqi federation.

In a related context, member of the governing council, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, said that the council addressed a message to the UN asking it to dispatch a delegation to Iraq, to study the possibility of having elections under current conditions. He indicated that the delegation will settle the current differences on the possibility of making elections under the current situation.

Al-Hakim's statements were made during his visit on Thursday evening to the Shiite religious figure, Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani, at his home in al-Najaf, Al-Seistani called for immediate general elections in Iraq, unless a UN committee would reach the conclusion that having such elections is not possible.