Cleric Seems Ready to Accept Compromise On Iraqi Elections ; Wants Date Set, Possibly This Year

Summary

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BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's most prominent Shiite cleric signaled Thursday that he would accept the installation of an unelected government after June 30 if elections are set - possibly at the end of the year - and the United Nations guarantees the date.

Although the timetable for the ballot is shorter than suggested by the United States, the statement by Grand Ayatollah Ali al- Husseini al-Sistani indicated an agreement was taking shape to end the U.S. occupation on schedule.

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Cleric Seems Ready to Accept Compromise On Iraqi Elections ; Wants Date Set, Possibly This Year

Such an agreement would probably involve a weak Iraqi administration assuming sovereignty on June 30 with its primary mission to or...

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