BAGHDAD, June 29 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Iraqis hit out Saturday, June 28, at a U.S. decision to halt local elections in provisional cities and towns across Iraq, saying that the U.S. did not honor anew its pre-war promises of bringing greater freedom and democracy to their country, a leading U.S. newspaper reported.

“They give us a general,” Bahith Sattar, a biology teacher and tribal leader in Samarra, told the Washington Post.

Sattar was a candidate for mayor until that election was canceled last week by the U.S. civil administration, which decided instead to install their own handpicked mayors and administrators, many of whom are former Iraqi military leaders.

“What does that tell you, eh? First of all, an Iraqi general? They lost the last three wars! They’re not even good generals. And they know nothing about running a city.”

The most recent order to stop planning for elections was made by Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, which controls the northern half of Iraq. It follows similar decisions by the 3rd Infantry Division in central Iraq and those of British commanders in the south, said the Post.

In the capital, Baghdad, U.S. officials never scheduled elections for a city government, but have said they are forming neighborhood councils that at some point will play a role in the selection of a municipal government.

In Najaf last week, several hundred demonstrators took to the streets to demand elections and the removal of Mayor Abdul Munim Abud, a former artillery colonel. The protesters’ banners read: “Canceled elections are evidence of bad intentions” and “O America, where are promises of freedom, elections, and democracy?”

At Friday prayers in Najaf, Sadr told the faithful at the shrine of Imam Ali, “I call for free elections that will represent all Iraqi opinion, far away from the influence of those who have intervened.”

Iraqi critics of the policy shift said the American and British forces are primarily hurting themselves by smothering aspiring leaders who would benefit from the chance to work more closely with Westerners, reported the Post.

In addition, they say the occupation authorities are fostering a dependent, passive mindset among Iraqis and leaving no one but themselves to blame for the crime, faltering electricity and general misrule Iraqis see in their daily lives.

"Occupation authorities initially envisioned the creation of local assemblies, composed of several hundred delegates who would represent a city or town’s tribes, clergy, middle class, women and ethnic groups. Those delegates would select a mayor and city council."

"That process was employed successfully in the northern city of Kirkuk, but U.S. civilian and military occupation officials now say post-war chaos has left Iraq unprepared to stage popular elections in most cities."

"Bremer promises that as soon as an Iraqi constitution is written and a national census is taken, local and national elections will follow. But that process could take months."

In Samarra, a two-hour drive north of Baghdad, the selection of a new mayor and city council by delegates was postponed twice, and finally canceled late last week.

“There will be no elections for the foreseeable future,” said Sgt. Jeff Butler of the U.S. Army’s 418th Civil Affairs Battalion from Kansas City, Mo., which is charged with running Samarra.

Butler said the city had been planning a caucus to pick a mayor when the order came down from Maj. Gen. Odierno. “He said, basically, stop,” Butler said.

A timetable for elections in Samarra, Butler said, “is six months at least, but I’m just guessing.”

Ten weeks into the occupation, the cities and towns outside of Baghdad are largely administered by former Iraqi military and police officers and people who had close ties to the Baath Party.

"Iraqi generals and police colonels, for example, are now mayors of a dozen cities, including Samarra, Najaf, Tikrit, Balad and Baqubah."

"The U.S. military contends that these people have been vetted and were not in leadership positions under the old government or associated with crimes it committed."

Earlier in June, the U.S. administrators have decided to "select" a small group of Iraqis to serve as an interim advisory council rather than convene a large national conference to create a transitional authority.