United Nations, Jan 21: The United Nations is close to backing an american and Iraqi request to deploy experts who would assess whether Iraq could hold elections by may for a transitional government, UN diplomats told reporters.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan received the request during a Monday meeting with leaders of the US-picked Iraqi governing council and the US-led coalition provisional authority. He said he supported the idea but reiterated that security for such a team was a key concern.
One UN diplomat yesterday said approval for an election team could come by week's end. Another agreed that was a possibility, but said the decision might not be announced until a few days later.
The team would head to Iraq soon after that, the diplomats said on condition of anonymity.
Iraqi leaders and the coalition provisional authority want the UN team to investigate whether elections can be held for a transitional legislature set to take power by June 30. Iraq's most prominent Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, has demanded direct elections to choose a provisional government.
But the coalition wants to adhere to a handover plan agreed to on November 15 that calls for caucuses to choose a provisional assembly.
Also yesterday, coalition and Iraqi officials said the coalition may turn over sovereignty to the governing council if al-Sistani sticks to his demand for early legislative elections.
Bureau Report