In Iraq, the country’s most influential religious leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani declared Thursday that he would back an agreement to delay the nationwide elections by six months until the end of this year. Sistani said the interim Iraqi government that takes control after the occupation ends of June 30 should view preparing the country for free, honest elections as its primary task. According to the Washington Post, the US appointed Iraqi Governing Council is scheduled to issue a basic law on Saturday that will serve as an interim constitution. But questions remain over how much autonomy Kurds will receive and the role of Islam in the law.