Iraqi leaders must agree on a basic electoral framework by the end of May if they are to hold elections as planned in January 2005, a top United Nations expert on elections said on Monday.
Carina Perelli, head of the UN Electoral Assistance Division, is in Iraq to give technical advice on how to organise an election for a transitional assembly early next year, as stipulated by Iraq's interim constitution.
Any delay in holding elections by the agreed date is likely to spark huge protests among Iraq's majority Shias who have been pressing for polls as soon as possible.
After meeting Iraq's Governing Council on Monday, Perelli said the timetable was very tight, but would be feasible if all basic agreements were in place within two months.
She said the most pressing issue was to set up an independent electoral authority that all Iraqis agreed was valid.
"We are all very much aware - ourselves, the Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority - that we are working on an extremely tight timeframe," Perelli told reporters.
"If there's going to be an election by January 31, all the agreements need to be reached no later than the end of May, otherwise the date (for polls) may be compromised," Perelli told reporters.
Under the transitional constitution, Iraqis will take back sovereignty on June 30. Power will go to a non-elected government. By the end of January 2005, there should be elections for a national assembly which will write a permanent constitution. That would then go to a referendum, and if approved full elections would follow by the end of 2005.
SECOND TEAM EXPECTED: Another UN team, due to be headed by former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi, is expected later this week to help work out the shape of the government that will assume power when Washington hands back sovereignty.
While the involvement of the UN on a political level has stirred some controversy, with some Iraqi leaders saying the world body should not be given too much influence, Perelli's visit has widely been accepted as welcome technical advice.