ELECTIONS

A U.N. official said Friday elections could not be held in Iraq before the U.S.-led authorities hand power to an Iraqi government in June.

The United Nations is trying to mediate in a dispute between Iraq's majority Shi'ites, who want elections before the transfer, and Washington which says there is not enough time to organize them.

"It's not a question of delaying (the handover). It's finding a new timetable," Ahmad Fawzi told BBC radio. "Elections will take place when the country is ready and that will be after the handover of power."

I got a kick out of this statement...which could only be uttered by a bureaucrat.

"Elections should be held as early as possible but not earlier than possible."