November 28, 2003

White House to appease powerful Iraqi cleric Sydney Morning Herald Less than two weeks after overhauling its plans for Iraq's political transition, the US is considering bigger revisions in an attempt to meet the wishes of the country's most influential Shiite Muslim cleric. US officials said the Administration might be forced to organise elections to satisfy Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani. Grand Ayatollah Sistani appears to have rejected a plan devised this month to select a provisional government through 18 regional caucuses, preferring a direct election. 1:13:46 PM