Sunnis seek a fixed timetable for occupation forces’ withdrawal. (Reuters)

BAGHDAD, February 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Iraq's leading Sunni religious authority on Saturday, January 5, said it would help draft the country's new constitution provided that a timetable for the withdrawal of US-led occupation troops has been set up.

Following talks with UN special envoy in Iraq Ashraf Qazi, the spokesman for the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) said that a consensus among the parties concerned on a fixed pullout of the occupation troops is a must before assisting with the new constitution, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Qazi asked the Association to take part in drafting the constitution. We told him that we had conditions and that we would discuss them with the parties that boycotted the polls and would put forward a common stance,” said Omar Ragheb.

“These demands focus on reaching a consensus with all political parties on a withdrawal of foreign forces,” he added.

The association, which opposed last Sunday's general elections along with other Shiite and communist powers, hinted that it could then weigh on fighters to end resistance.

“Then, the country's elders will tell the resistance: 'No need to spill more blood',” Ragheb said.

According to many observers, much of the success of the post-election period, during which parliament will have to draft a permanent constitution, will depend on the level of involvement of the Sunni community.

A senior official in the Association told IslamOnline.net Tuesday, February 1, that anti-occupation Sunni powers could wield a veto power if they were marginalized in drafting the constitution by the Shiites and the Kurds.

Under rules agreed last year, an October referendum to ratify that draft will fail if two-thirds of the voters in any three of Iraq's 18 provinces give it the thumbs-down.

Sunnis' numerical strength in at least three provinces north and west of Baghdad gives them such power.

Premiership Row

Bayati said premiership candidates include incumbent Shiite vice president and finance minister. (Reuters)

The much-coveted prime minister post has sparked early rows between the Shiites and the Kurds, who are likely to come second in the election.

“Shiites want the premiership, we are insisting on it and will not give it up,” Deputy Foreign Minister Hamed Al-Bayati told Reuters Saturday.

Bayati, a Shiite, is a senior official in the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), which is a key player in the United Iraqi Alliance, the election slate endorsed by Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani.

“The United Iraqi Alliance list has some candidates. The names are not finally agreed on yet because they are still discussing the qualifications and conditions of the prime minister,” he added.

Among those under consideration are Deputy President Ibrahim Jaafari, leader of the Dawa party which is part of the alliance, SCIRI official Adel Abdul Mahdi, who is finance minister, and Ahmad Chalabi.

Sources in the UIA told Reuters that Jaafari and Mahdi have a stronger chance of being named as prime ministerial candidate than Chalabi, who has fallen out of favor with Washington and has been involved in public rows with some Iraqi officials.

Bayati said the name of the president must be agreed between Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis.

“If the Kurds got the presidency, a Sunni Arab could be named head of the new National Assembly,” he said.

On Thursday, the main Kurdish bloc said it would demand that its candidate Jalal Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, should be either president or prime minister.

The premiership hopes deal a blow to incumbent interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi who had hoped to be picked again as a compromise candidate.

Election Results Soon

In another development, electoral commission officials said Saturday that the final results of the polls will be announced within five days.

“God willing, we will announce the final results before February 10,” AFP quoted commission official Farid Ayar as saying.

After the final result “appeals can be made for nine days. Afterwards, the commission will validate the final results” having taken appeals into account, he said.

With 3.3 million of the estimated eight million votes already counted, the UIA holds a commanding lead over its challengers.

The elections will determine the composition of a 275-member National Assembly that must in turn agree on a president and two vice presidents.

These officials must then agree on a prime minister and appoint a cabinet.