Iraq council leader foresees 2004 elections

The head of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council said yesterday elections for a new government would take place next year as the United States battled to win UN Security Council support for its latest draft resolution on Iraq.

Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi council's president under its rotating leadership, replied "definitely 2004" when asked when Iraqis would be able to elect their own government.

A US-drafted resolution aimed at getting international approval for the American-led occupation and reconstruction of Iraq seemed assured of the minimum nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member Security Council.

But France, Germany and Russia, who submitted amendments calling for a timetable to end the occupation, may abstain, along with China and Syria, thereby lessening the impact of the resolution.

Russia was still trying to get changes in the draft and requested consultations before any formal meeting later yesterday.

Although not spelt out in the resolution, the 2004 election date envisaged by Allawi, speaking in Malaysia on the eve of a Muslim summit, seems in line with US intentions.

The resolution could pave the way for other nations to provide troops and cash for Iraq, which is proving costly for the United States in lives and money.

But a drive to raise $55 billion to rebuild Iraq looks well behind target as only the United States has so far pledged funds on a huge scale, officials in Europe said.

Weeks of frantic activity to secure pledges in time for a donor conference in Madrid next week have run into a range of reservations from countries being asked to contribute.

These include opposition to the US-led war that caused so much destruction, concern about lack of Iraqi sovereignty, and a belief that the country's oil resources give it the potential to pay for its own reconstruction.

Officials hope there will be enough money, mainly from Washington, to meet the $17.5 billion needed for 2004.

"What donors will offer at Madrid will be quite mixed, it will be difficult to work out how much will be for 2004. We do not have a good idea of what percentage will be non-US," said a European official in charge of his country's effort.

Washington, which has already pledged to contribute $20 billion over 18 months, on Tuesday estimated non-US pledges for the Madrid summit at $2 billion. Under the US draft, co-sponsored by Britain, Spain and Cameroon, the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council must produce by December 15 a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections. France and Germany had wanted a provisional government before elections are held, which the United Nations estimates could take several years.