Cleric wields power in Iraq

Cricket is allowed but chess is "absolutely forbidden". Women may not shake hands with men. Music is permitted but only if it is not for enjoyment. Men cannot pray when wearing earrings.

These are the views of the most powerful man in Iraq.

After the United States invasion, various American officials and generals believed they occupied this position. They turned out to be wrong.

As the election victory of the Shiites has confirmed, the most influential figure in Iraq, dressed in tattered grey robe and black turban, is Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

The views of Sistani can be found on his highly professional web site, Sistani.org. They show tolerance of other religions.

In politics he is a moderate. He opposes the US occupation but has not issued a call to oppose it in arms. It was under his auspices that the United Iraqi Alliance, combining diverse parties, mostly Shiite, was formed. It is likely to win at least half the vote.

US officials have been quick to insist just how different the Iraqi Shiite clergy are from their Iranian equivalents. Vice-President Dick Cheney said that "the Iraqis have watched the Iranians operate for years and create a religious theocracy that has been a dismal failure".

It is true that the Ayatollah and his school of religious thinking does not believe that clerics should rule directly, taking over positions in government. But they don't really have to. The victorious religious parties, mostly led by laymen, are quite capable of setting up an Islamic state on their own.

Iraq could be on the verge of seeing the greatest setback to women's rights in the Middle East since Ayatollah Khomeini took power in Iran in 1979. Laws on marriage, divorce and inheritance could be changed in favour of men. Under Islamic law daughters inherit less than the sons.

There is also no doubt that Iraq is heading towards some form of Islamic republic even if it is more liberal than Iran.

This is likely to be reflected in the new Iraqi constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly just elected.

Even if the Shiite clergy tries to stay behind the scenes, they will still have great authority over Iraqi politics.

Already there are signs of Iraq becoming more Islamic, particularly in Sunni Muslim districts. Many shops selling alcohol, usually owned by Christians, have closed. Some have been attacked. Others selling CDs have been destroyed.

- INDEPENDENT