Iraqi Shia want Islamic regime

Shi'ites want to turn Iraq into an Islamic regime:

Shia demands for sharia law to prevail in Iraq would turn the country into an Islamic regime, the man expected to become president said yesterday.

The battle over the new constitution would be fierce, predicted Jalal Talabani, whose bid is backed by the Kurdish leadership and looks destined to succeed.

"I think there will be big differences over the relationship between religion and the state," he said. "The Kurds are openly for a secular constitution, the Christians too, so I am expecting sharp discussion on this issue.

"Some Shi'ites are asking that Islam be the only source of laws, which means turning Iraq into an Islamic regime, and that is unacceptable.

"We accept that the religion of Iraq is Islam, and we must respect Islam and the Islamic identity of Iraqi people. But we think Islam should only be one source of the Iraqi laws."

The Kurds expect to win at least 70 seats in the Baghdad parliament, behind the unified Shia coalition but well ahead of current prime minister Iyad Allawi's secular list. The Shia are insisting on holding the premiership, which strengthens the Kurdish claim to the presidency.

Mr Talabani, who would be the country's first Kurdish president, predicted "struggle, differences and difficulties" over jobs in the new administration. Announcement of the election results was postponed again yesterday.