What are the US plans for the handover?

The coalition is planning a series of meetings in each of the country's 18 governorates where an assembly will be selected.

This assembly will in turn select a government, which would be ready to take control of the country by June 30, 2004.

Under this arrangement, general elections are not likely to be held until at least the end of 2005.

Who opposes this plan?

Principally, Iraq's Shia community.

They make up some 60% of the Iraqi population and want direct elections so that their numerical supremacy can be reflected.

There have been mass demonstrations by Shia demanding a vote each, while their spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has made clear his opposition to the US plans.

Shia opposition to the current plan is seen as very troubling as it is widely believed that no government could enjoy any kind of legitimacy without Shia support.

So what are the obstacles to early elections?

Firstly, as the US argues, there is no accurate electoral roll and it is unlikely that voters could be registered in time for the 30 June deadline the US has set.

Proponents of an early vote say however that if work started now, a census and voter roll could easily be established before the end of the year.

There are also alleged to be concerns within the US camp that direct elections at this stage might give representation to Baathist and fundamentalist groups.

Iraq's other ethnic groupings - the Kurds and the Sunnis - are for their part worried that early elections would hand too much power to the Shia.

Thirdly, the US believes the security situation is currently too volatile to hold free and fair elections - a position UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has agreed with.

What role could the UN play?

If the UN does decide to send a team to Iraq, it intends to discuss options with Iraqis and try to formulate an acceptable alternative to the US plans.

Ayatollah Sistani has already made clear that he would be willing to accept a compromise developed by the UN.

The success of the mission may hinge on whether the US is prepared to be flexible about the date - 30 June - for the handover of power.

Why is that date so important to the US?

The date was agreed between the US and Iraq's Governing Council.

With the death toll among US soldiers continuing to mount, Washington is keen to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end as soon as it is safe and feasible.