The Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) submitted Monday a timetable for general elections for the constitutional convention.  

In a letter to the UN Security Council, current IGC chairman Jalal Talabani said the deadline for drafting a new constitution has been set on March 15, 2005.

The Iraqi leader also asked the council to adopt a new resolution ending the US-led occupation when a provisional government is elected in June, 2004.

"I have the honor to inform you and members of the Security Council that the Iraqi Governing Council has ... decided to hold general elections for constitutional convention no later than March 15, 2005," he said.

He said that the self-rule council and the transitional government of Iraq will make all necessary arrangements to prepare for the elections.

In a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in October, the Governing Council has been requested, no later than Dec. 15, to submit a timetable for drafting constitutions.

Talabani said a new resolution would be needed to cover the situation at the end of June 2004, when a provisional government is due to be elected.

"In light of what has transpired, it has become appropriate for the Security Council to adopt a new resolution taking into consideration the new circumstances," Talabani said in the letter.

According to an unofficial English translation of the letter, the Iraqi leader asked the council to include language in the resolution to acknowledge the end of June 2004 as the date "at which the Coalition Provisional Authority will be dissolved."

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2003)