by TChris

The tranfer of power to the people of Iraq, scheduled to occur on June 30, will be largely symbolic, as the United States will still exercise the real power in the country.

The fledgling Iraqi government will be capable of tackling little more than drawing up a budget and preparing for elections, top U.S. and Iraqi officials say.

Since the U.S.-led occupation regime will have a hand in choosing Iraq's next government, the body will lack a mandate for anything but administrative tasks. Many envision a team of nonpartisan Iraqi technocrats who concentrate on keeping the country functioning.

The interim government is not expected to enact any laws or enter into significant contracts. Rather, the government will try to create a budget while preparing for elections. In the meantime, the U.S. government will direct spending of much of the U.S. aid package, giving the U.S. "a huge tool with which to influence Iraq's affairs."

The U.S. influence on Iraqi affairs is expected to last beyond the formation of a democratically elected government. For example, Paul Bremer is appointing inspectors general for Iraq's ministries that, according to current rules, can't be replaced by an incoming Iraqi government.