"We hope elections would be held within two years in Iraq after a constitution is drafted by Iraqis, approved by a constituent assembly and put to a free public referendum," Chalabi, who is leader of the London-based Iraqi National Congress (INC) umbrella opposition group, told BBC television's Newsnight programme.

Asked whether that meant Iraq would have a US administration up until elections, he said: "We see no room for US administration and indeed the United States has said they hope to assist Iraqis in forming an interim Iraqi authority."

Chalabi is backed by the US Defense Department and has been pressing for a prominent place in any post-war government in Iraq. But the wealthy Chalabi, one of a host of Iraqi opposition figures, is opposed by the State Department and other parts of the US administration.

SPACE.WIRE