BASRA, Iraq: Tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslims shouting "No to America'' marched through this southern Iraqi city yesterday to back their spiritual leader's call for early elections, a stand that could stymie a US blueprint for transferring power to a new Iraqi administration.

The demonstration in Iraq's second largest city followed a string of violent incidents across the country, including a car bombing in Baqouba and a series of clashes between US troops and insurgents, which left 20 dead.

An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Shi'ite Muslims turned out in support of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani's demand for an interim legislature to be elected directly and not chosen in provincial caucuses as called for under a US plan.

The massive show of support showed that the United States cannot afford to take lightly al-Sistani, the most powerful cleric of Iraq's majority Shi'ites.

Smaller demonstrations also took place yesterday in Baghdad, Ramadi and Mosul, of a few hundred people each, cautioning against aspects of the US plan for Iraq's future, which they fear will divide the country.

Under the current plan, the United States will transfer power by July 1 to a provisional Iraqi government to be created by a legislature chosen by provincial caucuses. The plan envisions a two-year political transition before full elections in 2005.

The protesters shouted "No, No to America! Yes, yes to al-Sistani!'' as they marched through the streets, watched closely by British soldiers, before dispersing peacefully.

Iraqi leaders and US authorities hope next week's meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will help resolve the impasse over Sistani's objections to the American-backed political plan.

There is no mention of a UN role in a November 15 political agreement signed between L. Paul Bremer, America's top civilian official in Iraq, and the Iraqi Governing Council.

Bremer was due to fly to Washington later Thursday (local time) for what a coalition official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described as consultations with the Bush administration. It was not immediately clear whether Bremer would stay on to attend Monday's UN meeting in New York.

Yesterday, Iraq's old bank notes bearing Saddam's portrait became obsolete currency at the end of a three-month period to exchange them for the new sophisticated dinar. More than 10,000 tons of worthless notes are now being destroyed.

(China Daily 01/16/2004 page8)